Released April 6, 2018
7.5 / 10
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Glow Up, Crazy 4 You
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D.C. native duo OSHUN's debut is a flamboyant expression of self-worth that explores the future of soul and hip-hop while keeping a hand reached to artists that paved the way before them. Everything about OSHUN is intentional, starting with their name - a reference to the Yoruba deity associated with love, fertility and femininity; the very same goddess featured in Beyoncé's visual "Lemonade" in "Hold Up". The sound can be a little rough around the edges but more than compensates for its shortcomings, standing as a surprisingly good debut. Niambia Sala and Thandiwe - the individuals behind OSHUN - call their sound a sonic manifestation of afro-futurism. They work with their own brand of neo-soul that, while sounding fresh, recognizes its influences in the likes of Lauryn Hill, Outkast and Erykah Badu. The resulting music is complex, massaged and textured. *Welcome* throws us into the oshuniverse with brash instrumentals. Their flow is telling: the ladies are here to keep you on your toes. Both are deliberately cocky in true hip-hop fashion to hype listeners and live crowds alike. *Solar Plexus* opens with enthralling chimes before taking us on a trip. The track is exciting throughout but it would have benefitted from greater commitment to the chaos that seems to erode the music fabric to majestic effect only to be put back in chains. The only collaboration of the album show that OSHUN's galaxy and Jorja Smith's mellow sound have a meeting point. Unexpectedly the most intimate track on the album is the one where the duo shares the stage with another black woman. "bittersweet vol.1" is implicitly broken in two by design. The first tracks up to *Glow Up* - included - stand as a slightly avant-garde afro-futuristic self-affirming collection, turned outward in emancipation. The second half works with a more laid-back neo-soul sound grounded in themes of sensuality and romance. It seems the order is no accident: they preach self-love and emancipation before turning that love to someone else and encompassing other souls. *Me* is a very Erykah Badu anthem of self-love ("I don't have to want you to love every part of myself / Got my confidence with no help") to a harsh production style. *Blessings on Blessings* heightens the power of manifestation to a trap beat. Excellence really comes with *Glow Up*. From the exceptional lyrical content, the dexterous flow and the production that handles a tension between soft and sharp adroitly, there is much to pick from to explain why *Glow Up* is a homerun. OSHUN sound particularly sincere and their words find an uncanny resonance in today's societal zeitgeist. *Crazy 4 You* shows the women's fun side, a welcome oasis in the intimidating oshuniverse. Their voices compliment each other's beautifully on a backdrop of flutes and trumpets: it feels like a graduation from the oshuniversity (America's latest HBCU!). As a debut project, "bittersweet vol. 1" means serious business. Its strengths can be attributed to the duo's complicity: they play off each other's energy like no other, demonstrating the importance of chemistry in music. They preach a gospel that tells the story of a world that gives you back what you put out. If their philosophy sticks, they should receive nothing but blessings on blessings.
Favorite lyrics
"And if things fall apart, will I still be a part of you? Or is this the part, where I lose you?"
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