RESPECT. Premiere: TreaZon - "I Shouldn't Be Alive (Album)" - RESPECT.

Cleveland emcee TreaZon’s new album, I Shouldn’t Be Alive, is a celebration of life and perseverance shaped by pivotal moments in the artist’s life. And interestingly enough, the project was initially conceived as a mixtape wherein he would rap over instrumentals of tracks that saved his life. But everything changed when his daughter was born.

“I was in the hospital the day after she was born, and the show ‘I Shouldn’t Be Alive’ came on,” he says, referring to the show where survivors explain how they narrowly escaped various life-threatening situations “It felt like a message to me—like my daughter saved me.”

Later that same year, TreaZon was dealing with a lot of personal strife that came to head with so-called friends who turned on him. He explains that it felt like they tried to “kill” him in a figurative way, and it was with that and his daughter’s birth that I Shouldn’t Be Alive found its meaning. It’s one that chronicles triumph in the face of adversity through the lens of a supremely gifted lyricist and emcee, who also happens to have a stellar ear for production.

There’s a palpable sense of urgency to TreaZon’s bars on standout cuts like “Reason,” “Sleeve,” and “Alive” that goes beyond his blistering delivery. These are anthems for anyone looking to stay true to themselves as they cut toxic people out of their lives. There’s also absolute bangers thanks to the production from L. Williams Beats, Ashotz Beats, and Superstaar Beats, respectively.

But I Shouldn’t Be Alive is more than just massive beats and fired-up rhymes, and there’s a good reason for that. With this LP, TreaZon wanted to let his guard down, which is why a much more personal track like “Tonight” is one of his favorites on the record. In that vein, there’s also the moodier “Before My Eyes” and “L2N,” both of which deal with familial challenges and victories.

“One of the criticisms I got for my previous record, Troublesome, is people wanted to hear more of my personal life and they wanted me to be less surface level with topics,” he says, adding that he set out to do exactly that with I Shouldn’t Be Alive. The result is TreaZon’s best release to date, and it sounds like he’s only just getting started.

RESPECT. is pleased to premiere the album stream for I Shouldn’t Be Alive is available now through all major digital retailers and streaming platforms via Zero Love Records, .