Review: Riley Writtens' "FIF" EP

I can picture it—his minding wandering in the back of a cab, before hopping out and forgetting his phone on the seat. This is the event that birthed Brooklyn rapper Riley Written’s 5-track EP "FIF". With "FIF", Writtens had to start anew when the content for his original project disappeared right along with his phone. "FIF" as a title seems to represent expressing what you can until you can’t say anymore. 

“Fif Floo’” is the opening track of the EP, and for the first minute and 39 seconds Writtens is spitting game to this girl on the fifth floor. He references his rap goals, the girl’s “Baduism,” and the movie Love Jones in a cool way. At one point rapping, “focusing this lifetime with a pocket full of these rhymes.”  He let’s the instrumental play out for a minute before hopping back on and changing direction a bit. Here is where he explains how this is more than just trying to holla. He expresses his plights to her and tries to show what kind of person he is. “My words carry stench, I been writing with lighter,” are standout lyrics that come towards the end of the cut.

“Weird n***a but I’m nice with the adjectives,” raps Writtens on “Say No More.” “Say No More” is meant for people who talk but don’t walk. Writtens doesn’t have time for people or situations like that. Being nice with the adjectives and fending for himself helps him block those things out.

“Where My Phone Go” finds Writtens letting listeners know what led to that cab ride in a symbolic way. He raps about the stresses of life on the first verse, and the things he’s not missing about his phone (like social media) on the second one. “Life’s a bad b***h with thighs and an attitude” raps Writtens on the track. 

“Stolen Milk” the only track on the EP not produced by June Blaze. On the El-produced track seems to be rapping about things that have become clear to him over time. For example, he appreciates repeats more than reposts. "FIF" closes out with “Would You Listen,” an interlude. Ultimately "FIF" is good; however, Writtens not fully utilizing the instrumentals on his tracks is frustrating. Listen to the EP below.   

Review: Kelela's "Take Me Apart" Album

Kelela dropped her debut album about a week ago, and even though it's titled "Take Me Apart" it is not easy to dissect (not in a week's time anyway). The intricacies of her voice paired with genre-merging is overwhelming in the best way. So for right now I'll just dissect what I can--the stories she’s telling us through song. 

"Frontline" at the beginning sounded like going toward space but after hearing the push and pull of a story that Kelela lies over the track those sounds sound more like a musical build up to a pivotal scene in a movie. 

"Waitin'" has an instrumental with a lot of energy, energy that I would liken to a swarm of protons and electrons--it's perfectly magnetic. Perfectly magnetic is how Kelela paints seeing her ex some time after their break up, shamelessly being pulled towards one another.  

"We're getting looks but they can say what they wanna say, If they ask me, I'll tell them right away” sings Kelela at the end of the second verse. Although shame may be absent here, her thoughts and how they back track are not. On the pre-chorus she sings, "Damn, didn't we have a good time? Spinning around, we couldn't get off our ride. Damn, didn't we put up a fight? I'm trying to push it, don't let me lose it now."

17 seconds into “Take Me Apart” beads of water are introduced in the instrumental and fade as the instrumental changes. For me, the beads of water are significant because there’s something subtle yet, urgent about the sound. That same subtle urgency is present when she asks her ex to take her apart. Their familiarity with each other, the sting of their break up, and their time apart all work together to create something beautifully vulnerable. The beat takes listeners through the phases as Kelela’s voice floats over part of it as she sings about her fears and desires—and her climax.

I like to describe “Enough” as the antithesis of SZA’s “The Weekend.” On “The Weekend” SZA is fine with the guy she’s messing with, messing with someone else as long as she’s getting hers. Contrastingly, on “Enough”, Kelela getting hers is not enough. She needs to get free from the entanglement with her ex before she gets hurt. Everything about this track is immersive: her vocals, the beat, the subject matter.

"Jupiter" is an interlude of sorts where Kelela finds herself alone and striving for peace.

"Better" reminds me of that conversation Issa and Lawrence had at the end of season 2 of Insecure about their relationship in an honest way. That's exactly what Kelela is doing on "Better" being honest and open after the relationship's end. 

"LMK" stays with the theme of being communicative as Kelela asks the person whose eye she has caught to let her know what's up. "LMK" gives me Maxine Waters reclaiming my time vibes. 

For some reason the production on "Truth Or Dare" makes me visualize a ritualistic group dance of mostly women. But the song itself is about the exploration of new found sexual tension, and what lines would be crossed if any. Her voice on this one is subtle but important, it's not doing too little nor is it doing too much. And that balance is exactly what the two people are trying to gage. 

Similar to "LMK," "S.O.S" is about being straightforward. In this case, Kelela is being straightforward about her sexual appetite. At one point she sensually sings, "Won't you come over before it's too late, I could touch myself babe but it's not the same..."

"Blue Light" has this morphed feeling to it, which is fitting since Kelela's feelings about starting a new relationship change as the track goes on. She decides to free fall. Here her voice is sultry on this one. 

"Onandon" is about the new couple learning new things about one another and getting through the rawness that entails.  At one point she sings, "It's not a breakup, it's just a breakdown. " To me this song is about staying in something despite the bad moments and bottled up feeling. 

"Turn To Dust" comes when those feelings and moments are getting tiresome but the intimacy is still there, and not just sexual intimacy either. He has her captivated. 

Throughout the interlude Kelela repeats "I'm gonna prove you wrong." Prove what exactly? That she can stop her partner's departure with love. Vocally, Kelela approaches this track with a sly confidence. 

"Altadena" changes things up about it. It serves as the last track on the album and instead of talking about someone, it's speaking directly to someone. Someone who doesn't need to be reminded of their greatness but because of their surroundings doesn't mind it either. Someone who has been pushing a rock up a hill just for it to fall back down. She delivers this message with a tender nurturing voice as a single clap lines most of the track. 

If you would like to know what it feels like to experience this album live check back in with us in November for a concert review that will let you know just that. 

Stream/Download "Take Me Apart" by Kelela on iTunes

What Tyler, The Creator's "Nuts + Bolts" Showed Me

The first time I heard Tyler, The Creator’s music was at Governor’s Ball in 2014. He was on lineup that year and I remember being excited to see both him and Earl Sweatshirt. My excitement for Tyler wasn't rooted in knowing the lyrics to every song or thinking “ bae goals” during his set. It was rooted in seeing the mind behind those tweets I so enjoyed. I only saw a glimpse of how he worked that day, and it was cool to witness. 

Thanks to his VICELAND show Nuts + Bolts I was able to see more. The show follows Tyler as he stays true to the second part of his stage name and learns how to create stuff. Throughout the 6-episode season he meets with people within the industry of what he's trying to create in an attempt to understand the ins and outs. 

While meeting these people and trying out different things may have been eye-opening for Tyler, as a viewer the most interesting aspects of Nuts + Bolts for me are his interactions, and seeing how Tyler works with his fascination and imagination to create something tangible. 

In terms of interactions, his commentary is important. His commentary is his interaction with the audience. It let us know that he’s not really a fan of water or the dark, in addition to a number of other things. Sometimes his commentary is just a place for emotion. At times he’s hype, other times slightly hesitant and inquisitive. His commentary also simply reminds us that Tyler is Tyler. 

His conversations with the people he's learning from remind us of this as well. In the fourth episode of Nuts + Bolts titled “Breakfast” he asks Professor Andrew F. Smith, “What came first: the waffle or the waffle-maker?” Later on in the episode he asks the COO of Crown Maple if he's read the Facebook of a tree to make sure it's ok. What's great is that Tyler isn't worried about being prim and proper when talking to these people, he's unapologetically himself. 

Tyler’s actions show that too. For example, in his episode about floating he claims to have to shown up to the sleep-deprivation chamber drunk. In the episode Tyler and Neil deGrasse Tyson hug and fall into their seats while doing so,and continue their conversation about floating as if nothing happened--it was awesome to watch. 

If you couldn’t tell by now watching Nuts and Bolts helped me learn some cool things, but the coolest thing was learning about Tyler (and Jasper) and laughing out loud. This is a definitely a show for the people who are a fan of the person and the music. You can watch the full season of  
Nuts + Bolts below.   

Skrillex Remixes Kendrick Lamar's "Humble"

Kendrick Lamar’s “Humble” is one standout track, and its accompanying video is even more memorable. Skrillex has decided to get in on all the hype by dropping an official remix of the DAMN cut. Some remixes like this have the power to make listeners like the song even more, while others come off as a hijacking into the EDM-sphere. 

For Skrillex, this track seems neutral. Because it sounds like the fan in him just wanted to play around with one of the most talked about tracks of the year. He probably had an audible vision of what this remix would sound like when he first heard “Humble”.

And that audible vision is now a reality with the original piano being swapped with a screechy-sounding bass, “hold up little b***h” in a lower pitch, and all the other bells and whistles (both literal and figurative) that are usually heard on a track of this genre. 

Listen to Skrillex’s remix of “Humble” below.

Aminé and Kehlani's New Song With Give You The Heebiejeebies

Aminé and Kehlani have collaborated on “Heebiejeebies” and there’s something addictive about it. From the piano keys the songs opens with, to the intertwining of their bars and vocals, the track is enticing. They use their skills to tell a story of relationship like no other, one that's so something they're not used to it's scary in a good way. “I never seen your type of species give me heebiejeebies” sing both of them on the chorus. Aminé and Kehlani use their verses to note that even the most gratifying relationships have to weather storms sometimes. Listen to Aminé’s“Heebiejeebies” featuring Kehlani below. 

“Heebiejeebies” comes just days after Aminé dropped the remix for “REDMERCEDES” featuring Missy Elliott and AJ Tracey. Here's to hoping he keeps up the momentum. 

Review: "The Awakening" by Kevin Ross

Motown signee Kevin Ross delivered his debut album "The Awakening" earlier this year. Aside from a few features. Ross and his voice carry the 15-track album. Do you want to be great is the question listeners are posed with in the opening of “Be Great.” The song finds Ross asking himself the same question and assuring himself that he will be great. He does so over a piano and clap-driven instrumental. Rapper Chaz French joins Ross on this one with some thought-provoking bars. Ross let’s listeners know that he might not be at his greatest without his lady by his side on “Don’t Forget About Me.” He sings over a drum heavy beat about a girl who has dealt with nights alone, distance, and more thanks to his tireless work ethic. “O.I.L.” which stands for one I love and focuses on exactly that-the lady that has his heart. At one point he sings “If I had the chance to conquer time I would cherish every moment that you smile.” “Long Song Away” sticks with this premise a bit with Ross living in the moment and doing so passionately. The album’s fifth track is a nod to Ross’ beginnings with track “Dreams” getting the remix treatment thanks to Chaz French. An acoustic version of the original track was my introduction to Ross’ so its remix is definitely favorite track on The Awakening. Aside from my bias French’s verse on the cut contributed to “Dream” being a standout for me as well. He raps like he’s committed, like he’s genuinely spitting his truth, like he’s human. “It's hard to sleep when the girl of your dreams is a nightmare,even harder wakin' up when I realize you're not there, furthermore, understandin' that there ain't no love without fear, now I see what they say about life and how that's just not fear,” raps Chaz French at the start of his verse. 

“Genesis Pt.1” is an interlude that possesses the same sincerity as Ross sings about how and why him and his lady came together. Similarly, “Don’t Go” finds Ross not wanting to separate from his girl or from the bed for that matter. His vocals on this one make it feel like he’s floating on cloud 9. Ross links up with Lecrae to change the subject from his lady to living with “Look Up.” At one point Ross sings “Does my color speak louder than me?” “Look Up” is a track that takes note of the things that is going on around us while reminding us to have faith. “But we were built to survive, inside this set up,and even though you fed up, uh, keep your head up” is the end of Lecrae’s verse. Things go from having faith in humanity to having faith in yourself with “Pick You Up.” I interpreted this track from two different lens. Throughout the song Ross sings “I’ll pick you up” in times of defeat in worry. He may be singing  these words of encouragement to his girl or the words that Ross are singing could be God speaking to him. My second favorite track on the album follows “Pick You Up,” and also happens to be a Remix. Ross and fellow Motown signee BJ The Chicago Kid join forces for “Be Great (Remix),” and it’s a memorable collaboration to say the least. Both of their vocals are strong and the lyrics are motivating.

“Easier” slows things down and brings Ross back to the subject of his lady. Everything with her is easy and he wants to make it easier for her to be with him. The song is essentially about communication.”Her Hymn” seems to be a song dedicated to his lady but it may not be. “Genesis Pt. 2” follows and beautifully extends the interlude. “In The Name Of Your Love” echoes the sentiment of “Don’t Go,” he simply can’t enough of her. “New Man” is personal, vulnerable, and so much. It’s a great way for Ross to conclude the album. He’s grown as a man and he uses prime vocals to show us how.    

Listen to The Awakening below.