Jessie Reyez returns with a haunting collaboration featuring the legendary spirit of Bob Marley on the track “EGO ATROPHY,” a standout from her introspective album A LITTLE VENGEANCE (is more human than no vengeance at all). The song blends Reyez’s raw vocal honesty with Marley‑inspired reggae vibes, creating a meditation on self‑release and spiritual grounding.
“EGO ATROPHY” explores the journey of shedding personal pride and embracing a deeper connection to water, divinity, and inner peace. Reyez reflects on freeing herself from demons, finding balance between material wealth and spiritual wealth, and ultimately letting go of ego to discover true freedom.
Keep me close to water, keep me close to God
Free me from my demons and keep love in my heart
I believe in freedom, life and in the peace
Thankful that I’m breathing, it’s my ego atrophy
Yeah, yeah, yeah
It’s my ego atrophy
I listen more than I speak (I speak)
Whenever I heart a heartbeat
Yeah, I let the light shine bright (Bright, bright, bright)
I let the light sine bright
I am not my dark slope, I am just the water
Community conscious light (Light, light, light)
You know it, you know
Got about a billion dollars and my energy
Got about a billion dollars and my energy
I’ll find my peace when I let it go, let it go
I’ll find my peace when I, when I let it be
Keep me close to water, keep me close to God
Free me from my demons and keep love in my heart
I believe in freedom, life and in the peace
Thankful that I’m breathing, it’s my ego atrophy
Yeah, yeah, yeah (Ego)
It’s my ego atrophy
Mm, yeah (Ego)
Bob Marley in my headphones (No sleep), in my mind he echoes (This is love)
One love is the ultra vibe, vibe, vibe
I am not perfection (Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, no) but I am creation (I am creation)
Alchemy inside my mind, mind, mind
They said, “Who are you?” I am you
Got about a billion dollars and my energy
Got about a billion dollars and my energy
I’ll find my peace when I let it go, let it go
I’ll find my peace when I, when I let it be
Keep me close to water, keep me close to God
Free me from my demons and keep love in my heart
I believe in freedom, life and in the peace
Thankful that I’m breathing, it’s my ego atrophy
People believe that death is stronger than life
But we know that life is stronger than death (Keep me close)
So, life is the road, you know? (Keep me close to God)
God create I (Keep me close) and I don’t want no life no obligation (Keep me close)
That means you’re your own man, that’s the first time you hold yourself (Keep me close)
You do what you want to do (Keep me close to God)
Anything people want to say about you, you don’t care (Keep me close)
(Keep me close) Possessions make you rich? (Keep me close) I don’t have that type of richness (Keep me close to God)
My richness is life, forever (Keep me close)
Keep me close, keep me close, keep me close
Keep me close to God
Keep me close, keep me close, keep me close
Keep me close to God
Since its release, “EGO ATROPHY” has resonated with fans for its candid vulnerability and the seamless fusion of Reyez’s modern R&B storytelling with Marley’s timeless reggae ethos. Listeners praise the track’s uplifting mantra of shedding ego and finding inner peace, cementing its place as a highlight of the album.
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