Compton-born MC Buddy has been in the spotlight since he signed to Pharrell’s Star Trak imprint as a 15-year-old. His first single, “Awesome Awesome”, was produced by The Neptunes; his second included a feature from Kendrick Lamar. Expectations have always been high for the MC, and his 2024 project, Don’t Forget to Breathe, is a reminder to put self-care above all else. Buddy takes his own instructions well, and the album is a refreshing splash of cold water (reflected in the cover art). The MC showcases his ability to blend bar-for-bar technical skill with an intuitive sense of melody, which he incorporates from the get-go on “Free My Mind”. He croons, “Soon as I free my mind/I’ll be all right/Soon as I free my mind/I’ll be just fine.” During the first verse, he displays a superlative grasp of narrative, telling a story of growth fit for a novel and a theme that occurs throughout the album. He raps, “I was sick/Life changes in the flip of a switch/I’m still healing over shit I done did.” He concludes, “I admit I’m/Still sinning, asking for forgiveness/God’s my witness.”