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This year, R&B artist Steve Lacy garnered the attention of some new fans with the release of his third studio album, Gemini Rights, which quickly became an essential summer album with its hit songs, “Bad Habit” and “Static.” 

However, fans often overlook Lacy’s debut album, Apollo XXI. In this album, Lacy explores his journey in discovering his sexual orientation and his decision to come out. 

“Like Me” is the second track of the album and features the singer Daisy World, who has worked closely with similar artists to Lacy, such as Tyler, the Creator. In “Like Me,” Lacy expresses the insecurities and dread surrounding his experience of coming out and addresses how the experience impacted his mental health, specifically his anxiety.

Throughout the song, Lacy reveals the loneliness he experienced through the lyrics, “I wonder, oh, how many out there just like me?/How many others not gon’ tell their family?/How many scared to lose their friends like me?”

The final single before the album’s release, “Hate CD,” is another hit from the album. In it, Lacy explains his infatuation with another man, which creates an addictive feeling. Similarly, “Love 2 Fast” explores Lacy’s tendency to fall in love too quickly, which results in pain and heartbreak. 

A main component of Apollo XXI is the guitar, which reflects Lacy’s musical past, for Lacy was the former guitarist of the R&B band The Internet. 

Through Apollo XXI, Lacy enables listeners to grasp the difficulties and anxieties of coming to terms with and exploring one’s sexuality.