nineofya

There's something inherently beautiful about the way "Expansion Team" presents its boom bap - very simple yet supremely confident - with Evidence and Iriscience effortlessly gliding over Babu's production, often elevated further by standout contributions from an early-career Alchemist and EV himself.

"YESSIE" sets a grand and ambitious stage for Jessie Reyez to shine on, though the final product ultimately undersells many of her strengths as both a vocalist and songwriter.

Simply put, "PAID IN MEMORIES" gets lost in its own bloated runtime; while its first half ranks among the strongest and most vocally striking material in Jessie's catalog, the second half noticeably falters in comparison.

On "BEFORE LOVE CAME TO KILL US", Jessie Reyez isn't necessarily reinventing the wheel, but she does craft one of the most sonically engaging R&B soundscapes of the past decade, all brought together by her incredible vocals and delivery.