Lil Man J announces new album "The Underdawg"

Indie musician and social media personality Lil Man J will release his new album, The Underdawg, October 16, led by the motivational single "Keep Breathing."

Born Jackson Benfield, Lil Man J entered the music scene in 2022 at age 16 and has since built a following on high-energy songs that blend country and hip-hop, including "Cap Freestyle," "Sippin Country," "Stuck in the Middle" and "Life Is Good," amassing more than 250 million streams along the way.

The South Carolina native has also used his platform to advocate for disabled communities while managing his own physical health challenges, and The Underdawg leans into that vulnerability more directly than his earlier work. "I've always felt misunderstood and out of place at times in my life," he said of the album, adding that he hopes the music encourages listeners going through similar feelings to keep pushing forward.

"Keep Breathing" describes the toll depression and anxiety can take, an honest anthem the singer says reflects both his own struggle and the sacrifices he made to get here.

The 11-track album includes a feature from Taela on "Who's Laughing Now" and one from DJ Paul on closer "Comin In Hot," with the rest of the tracklist running "I Plead The 5th," "Working On Me," "Black Dirt Red," "Strangers," "Bad & Ugly," "Too Far Down," "Barefoot Running (Hallelujah)" and "I Can't Help."

The Underdawg is due October 16 and joins a fall run of genre-blending country releases tracked on the release calendar.