Afro-Colombian artist Matthew Beachy – better known by his stage name Lil Crush – has released his much-anticipated album Reel Music. The ambitious project spans 30 tracks and runs for 91 minutes, delivering a deeply immersive listening experience. Blending hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, and experimental pop, the album defies genre while reflecting the emotional depth and cultural influences that shape Beachy’s Afro-Colombian identity.
Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Beachy spent much of his upbringing moving between Bogotá, Colombia, and the United States. Performing since childhood, he first took the stage in Bogotá at just five years old. Now 25, Reel Music represents twenty years of artistic development. Beachy first drew major attention in 2021 with the release of “Suni Lee,” a tribute to the Olympic gymnast that became so impactful a mural featuring both Beachy and Lee was later painted in St. Paul, Minnesota. In addition to Lil Crush, Beachy also performs as the Latin Prince and produces for both himself and Minneapolis band THR333 (The Hardship Reveal 333). After being signed to Minneapolis-based WEON Records from 2019 to 2022, he departed to establish his own creative label and brand, Planet Crush – an outlet built on the same principles that guide his artistry: bold creativity and emotional honesty.
Reel Music highlights the multifaceted identity Beachy has cultivated as an artist, bringing together the many personas and collaborators within his creative orbit. Each of the album’s 30 songs featured credited contributors (including several of Beachy’s own alter egos) such as Colombian Crush, THR333, The Latin Prince, Fa’id, BRIZO, and Beachy. Together, these figures expand the universe of Lil Crush’s music while maintaining a strong core of genuine emotional expression.
The 30-song tracklist of Reel Music exhibits several highlights. Many of the rock tracks on the record are listed as “Live,” and these songs are all but stadium-ready. “Twisted” is a hard-rocking banger, with a cowbell in the intro precluding a high-octane anthem featuring lyrics in which Beachy advocates for treating women properly (“Don’t use a good girl/Even if a bad one hurts you”). “Poco Loco” is a slacker rock track, with syncopated percussion hits punctuating the song’s more laid-back energy. The lyrics (in Spanish) describe a woman Beachy is attracted to, and the soaring chorus is one fans are apt to sing along to.
Reel Music also features many quieter moments, listed as “Acoustic” for the acoustic guitar tracks or “Piano” for the piano tracks. “Fallin’” is a compelling R&B-infused piano track. The quiet piano instrumentation underscores Lil Crush’s lyrics, which see Beachy attempting to process and understand a woman in his life. In a song otherwise in English, the second verse features Spanish lyrics (which Beachy performs as “Colombian Crush”), a choice brilliantly exhibiting the multiculturalism that has defined Beachy’s life and career. Elsewhere, “Agoostic” is a tender acoustic guitar track, with the guitar playing exhibiting a surprising amount of punch in spite of the song’s quiet instrumentation. In these moments, Beachy has plenty of room to shine as a lyricist, and these songs are the emotional heavyweights of the mammoth Reel Music tracklist.
Ultimately, Reel Music showcases Lil Crush’s remarkable range and willingness to push artistic boundaries. The album merges diverse cultural influences and musical styles into a cohesive, deeply human body of work. It stands as a reflection of the layered world Beachy has created through his multiple identities, creative ventures, and cross-cultural background – resulting in a powerful and emotionally compelling project that mirrors the dynamic artist behind it.
“With Reel Music, Lil Crush isn’t just releasing an album, he’s unveiling a universe,” says music publicist Danielle Holian, Decent Music PR. “Thirty tracks, zero boundaries. He moves effortlessly between cultures, genres, and identities, and somehow makes it all feel cohesive, intentional, and deeply human. This project doesn’t chase trends; it sets its own frequency. Lil Crush is proving that evolution isn’t a phase for him, it’s the foundation.”
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