DeKALB — Jalen Smith, senior art illustration major, also known as “Visionary J,” will be dropping his new single “First friend” Friday on all streaming services. 

The new single shines light on common themes shared on his album “Jalen” that came out Feb. 29, like a deeply personal narrative and commentary on gun violence, Smith said. 

“It was originally supposed to be on the album,” Smith said. “It’s another honest song where I tell a story, and with this one I never put it on the album because I felt like I was giving too much of myself because of how vulnerable the song is,” Smith said. 

The listener will get a storytelling aspect from the single, similar to “Jalen,” as it tells the story of Smith and his friend ultimately taking two different life paths, and how Smith’s friend was involved in a shooting that left him injured, Smith said. The cover art for “First Friend” is an old picture of Smith and this childhood friend, along with the single name.  

“I’m really excited for listeners and my immediate circle of family and friends to hear it because that’s really us and our story,” Smith said. “I feel like a lot of people can relate to this single.”