On Oct. 10, musical artist Boywithuke released a TikTok slideshow where he left a message for fans, showed us his face, and gave us his name: Charley Yang. Yang is Boywithuke, a fact previously unknown to his fans.
Four days before this, Boywithuke released his 4th studio album titled “Lucid Dreams.” His albums have been following a progressive theme regarding mental health and relationships since his first album “Melatonin Dreams.” This album felt like a closing to that saga as it draws on styles from his prior albums.
I think this album perfectly encapsulates the final bow of Boywithuke. After four albums and three EPs, it doesn’t feel like there are any loose ends. I think the music video to his closing song “King of Nothing” ties everything together in a way that is satisfying to listeners
In the video, Yang is shown setting up mannequins and dressing them up in different outfits that Boywithuke had worn in his music videos. The whole time he is unmasked and walking around the room. When his rap verse hits, he is standing in front of a projector watching clips of his life speeding past.
As the verse ends, Yang is shown holding a sledge hammer as the video cuts back to the mannequins, who are all now wearing his signature mask. He starts dancing around the room seeming really happy before taking the hammer to all of the mannequins, effectively destroying Boywithuke. The video ends with a pile of mannequins as Charley walks toward it before placing the mask down on the top of the pile.
The whole video centers on Charley separating himself from the identity of Boywithuke. I think the symbolism is a little heavy handed but it makes his message very clear.
I don’t think he regrets the time he spent as Boywithuke, I just think he is ready to move on and make music as Charley Yang.
The scenes where he was smashing the mannequins felt euphoric and cathartic, but it didn’t feel like there was malice. It felt like he was freeing himself of chains, finally letting his identity be more than the mask he has worn for three years. The last scene of the video is very somber and bittersweet. He seems to almost hesitate before leaving the mask on the pile and then he walks away.
On Oct. 18, the music video for his song “Before I Die” was released on youtube and I think it proves that he doesn’t regret his time as Boywithuke. All the music video consists of is a compilation of people taking off the mask.
It goes to show how many people he has impacted with his music. It may not be much but I think that with the song being about not wanting to die before he does more with his life, there was no better song for this compilation.
I think “Lucid Dreams” is not his best album as a whole but works near perfect for what it is meant to be: a final farewell to Boywithuke. I don’t think Charley is done making music and I am very excited to see what he does next. A new era of Boywithuke is upon us and it starts by saying farewell to Boywithuke and seeing what Charley Yang has in store for fans.
Hello my name is Ryker Stevenson and this is my second year on 42fifty. I am a senior and currently participate in chess club and co-captain for scholastic bowl. I am happy to be back and to serve the publication again as the Arts and Entertainment Section Editor.
