New Music Treats of the Week: an Ode to Queen Keke

Hey listeners! Your favorite ENBY is back with another helping of music treats. This week it is all about the Girls!

We listening to albums:

Big Boss x Keke Palmer

Keke Palmer is back with her first album in a decade Big Boss. On the project, the artist, who just added mother to the many hats she wears in her illustrious career, has entered her big boss era. The overall thematic throughline of the album sees her stepping into her power and worth and knowing exactly her price. If you've been paying attention, Miss Mama Keke has been glowing and making huge moves over the past few years. An Amazon Prime collaboration, A TV Network: KeyTV, her skin cleared up, and her body is bodying, both of which she happily attributes to her beautiful new son Leodis! Along with the album, she released a 41-minute accompanying film! Here are my favorite Big Boss moments from the album!

"Views" Big Boss Moment:

"How the hell is you gone run with her?
You pressed, but she ain't equal to your worth
I know when you love her, that it hurts
Because you just see me in her eyes
You'd better learn to recognize
How to position me inside of your life
See, I know why
You see me inside of a different type of light"

Starting off strong, she checks her man, letting him know where you are now is not where you need to be. You better get it together and put me where I deserve to be.

"Right Now" Big Boss Moment:

"All dat bluffin that you doin' out cha mouth, pull up on me we can do it right now. Talk is cheap my brother come lay that dick you been braggin' about."

Put your meat where your mouth is, basically. You not gon talk my ear off about how good you'd fuck me and NOT fuck me. C'mon now.

"Love Language" Big Boss Moment:

"You've got what it takes
To make me switch up my pace
You know we got fire and desire
Goin' for days, don't get tired, tired
Say you ain't fiendin', you a liar, liar
Took you off the game, made you retire"

There is immense energy in knowing you put it down good on someone, and they frontin'. You know it's so good over here that I wore you out. It's happened to me. It was a good feeling, hehe.

"Standards" Big Boss Moment:

"Good love ain't really hard to find, you just gotta look inside, yeah
Can't get sidetracked with broken promises
This time, when I put me first, I will not regret it

Just this time, get in line, no, you gonna find yourself left"

A favorite of mine, there are moments you should drop someone, but if it is real, *cough cough Beyonce and Jay-z* you give that man one more chance because we have STANDARDS!

"FR FR" Big Boss moment:

"No cellphones, sign this NDA (For real)
And I just might let you taste the meal
But you gotta be low with it, for real, for real"

Power and status are plain to see when you make someone sign an NDA, but the boss moment for me is "I might let you taste," not a guarantee, brother!

"Cakes" Big Boss Moment:

"Ain't no sense of frontin'
Can I just be honest
I got other options, yeah, yeah, yeah."

A Rolodex of men and Keke identifies as queer, a Rolodex of PEOPLE!

"Approach Me" Big Boss Moment:

"I don't need to say I'm different, I'm just not like them
You gotta know before you approach me
Everythin' you say about me, say I'm not like them
Know that before you approach me"

Closing the album strong, she lays down the law. You have to research before you even think about stepping to me. I am not like any of them, I am a Big Boss.

Big Boss on Spotify

Stages x Njomza

With her fourth septuplet project, Stages, and a new bob, blonde this time, Njomza navigates the stages, see what she did there, of grief and mourning a lover.

Key Track: "Over You" (feat. Louis Child)

Njomza depicts thrashing around at night, wondering why you are past this already, thinking about what they are doing, what went wrong, and how it went wrong in your feelings.

Stages on Spotify

Droppin Singles:

"Vulture Queen" x Aja

In an emotional post, Aja pens a love letter to finally being able to release her first single from her upcoming album, "F3MQUEENRAGE." Independently financed and off the heels of taking care of herself, she is in her era of accepting the villain title bestowed on her. Get into it.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Vulture Queen (@ajathekween)

2 for 2:

These girls are feeling their Drake going back-to-back with fire releases.

"Lipstick Lover" X Janelle Monàe

Her second single from the recently announced album, The Age of Pleasure, coming June 9th, is a sapphic anthem. An ode to lipstick lovers and the sensuality of pleasure between women. "For your love, I'll take my time," she sings. In an accompanying music video of sexual freedom and joy, Janelle unleashes herself.

"Party Girls" x Victoria Monét (feat. Buju Baton)

Victoria is taking it all the way home. Jaguar Part 2 is gearing up to be an exceptional release. The dancehall, reggae-influenced track sets a perfect stage for the upcoming summer heat. Victoria is coming for the song of summer!

"Little Things" x Jorja Smith

Once the beat comes in after the intro, you know it is a Jorja song. The track will get you up and dancing as she sings about what gives her joy and that a lover doesn't have to do much if the vibe is right. When you feel it, you feel it.

Alternative Girls Do It Well:

"Pegasus" x Arlo Parks (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)

Arlo has a knack for writing beautiful hand-in-pocket, bashful love music; this one is no exception. With lyrics like "I spun round and scream I feel elated when you hold me / and you got shy and beamed I think it's special that you told me" and Phoebe Bridgers' backup vocals, the dreamy track soars.

"UR SO FULL OF IT," x Alemeda

One of my favorite artists finds of the last year and a half! Her breakout single "Bleach My Eyebrows" landed her on my radar! In this cut, she dissects a lover for being inconsistent, failing to meet their expectations, and making empty promises. Sometimes you have to be blunt to make them get it.

Rap Girls:

"Keep It Cute" x Maiya the Don

My favorite track drop from Maiya. The KP-produced track shows off Maiya's versatility on a beat that changes gears from time to time. "Fuck round leave this bitch / Every diamond on me froze / Any ****** that bought me heels, probably sucked all my toes" is my favorite line, and the beat change had me stuck and up!

"Ass Kickin" x Monaleo

If y'all do anything, listen to this song and watch the music video. Pregnant Monaleo and two other pregnant women are spies, ala Foxy Cleopatra Brown of Goldmember, quite literally ass-kicking in the video. The track confirms that a baby is not gon change anything for Monaleo. She is still not one to play with!

"Day One" x Tyga

I am only plugging this song because he is channeling the growls and ballroom, and I can't help but giggle about it. Someone should definitely remix this, it is kinda catchy.

Missed honorable mentions:

"Roach Killaz" x Todrick Hall (feat. Monét X Change & Bob The Drag)

I'm not sure how I missed this drop; Todrick's creativity is to be marveled at to be honest and Bob and Monét me dowwwn! The music video is pure cunt comedy with the dancers dressed as roaches hitting' that 8 count.

Upcoming releases:

SUMMER IS COMING!

May 19th

Clear 2: Soft Life EP x Summer Walker

KaytrAminé x Kaytranada, Amine

Gag Order x Kesha

The Little Mermaid Soundtrack x Cast of The Little Mermaid

Update those playlists and turn the volume up! Keep coming back weekly as I elevate the taste and shake some bass. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram for more Black, Queer, and Pop culture content.

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