Jafet Muzic. backstage at the Palladium in 2021 for a photo shoot for Worcester Magazine's Favorite New England Albums. Christine Peterson/Telegram & Gazette
On Jafet Muzic's "Fallen Soldiers," released in May, it starts with a cinematic '70s soul string intro provided by a New York hip-hop fixture, then unfolds as the Worcester MC tells a tale of overcoming unlikely odds and paying it forward to the next generation.
"Faced destruction at a young age, seduction with a tongue wave/made it unscathed, I was an old soul during the fun stage," Jafet raps.
The track is a collaboration with longtime Brooklyn producer Domingo Padilla, who has worked with everyone from hip-hop pioneers Rakim and KRS-One to superstars Eminem and Drake.
"It was a great opportunity to create a song with somebody who's well respected and has a history within the culture," Jafet said. "He produced the first platinum record for a Puerto Rican hip-hop artist (Big Pun's 'Capital Punishment'), so being Puerto Rican and submerged in hip-hop culture, it's a connection that I appreciate because it's beyond just me."
According to Jafet, "Fallen Soldiers" is both a tribute to those who didn't survive their personal struggles and an encouragement to those still here and battling their demons.
"The song speaks from a personal point of view, but it speaks to the struggles that we face, mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually," Jafet said. "Sometimes we feel like we're losing a battle, but we have the opportunity every day to improve ourselves and go to war."
Jafet said he has always aimed to hold conversations in his lyrics and speak to common experiences rather than boast or show off.
"It's always a part of me to be able to speak from a real place and be a regular human being, and I never want to lose sight of being able to connect with people," Jafet said. "It's not always peaches and cream. My music always has and always will represent the ups and downs, the good and the bad and the ugly."
"We became the theme music to morals and common sense/our only purpose is growth, building with confidence/planting seeds, leaving fruits for the youth to bare," Jafet raps at the end of the track, finishing it out by reminding listeners one more time what he's about.
It was an honor, Jafet said, "just having the opportunity to show people that someone in the local scene is working with people who are revered in the industry. I hope that inspires the local youth to reach for their dreams."
