Few artists wear their truth as openly as Elijah Harris, and with "PTSD '17," he turns one of his darkest chapters into a track that overflows with openness, yet cannot be denied its energy. The song exists at the intersection of alternative hip-hop, emo rap, and chillwave, infusing pain into a product that listeners can party to, a duality that feels all too real.
Harris discusses the painful decision to separate from his son and his son's mother for their mental health. Rather than succumb beneath that burden, he found solace in music, producing, mixing, and mastering "PTSD '17" all on his own. That raw independence seeps through every note, propelling the track like a diary entry shouted over booming bass.
The song has the haze of cloud rap but an energy that demands to be felt in a live setting. What adds a further twist to "PTSD '17" is the partying vibe. It honors suffering while turning it into fuel for connection. The production plays dark and moody, and the tempo and delivery dictate movement. "PTSD '17" is evidence that even in the darkest times, art can sublimate anguish into something freeing, something you can headbang and heal to simultaneously.
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