Review: The Angel You Don't Know #TAYDK by Amaarae

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4.8

Amaarae’s highly anticipated LP, “The Angel You Don’t Know” is finally here and the girls are FEASTING.

Known for her raw lyrics juxtaposed with her dreamlike angel voice, Amaarae has won hearts all over the world. On this first LP, the warrior princess makes it clear that she cannot be boxed in. The whole tape boasts a deeper if not darker range to Passionfruit Summers, taking us on a trip into the angel’s psyche and varied musical influences. From slower afrobeats style love songs like Sad, U Broke My Heart to hard-cut alt-rock and trap leaning jams like Jumping Ship and Hellz Angel, Amaarae’s growth is undeniable.

Getting right into it, Dangerous is a great Kickstarter. The punk rock leaning intro only lasts 22 seconds but it’s the perfect welcome into the fabulous, dangerous world of everyone’s favourite atomic angel. Nodding to the guitar riffed theme songs of MTV reality shows that Amaarae grew up on, coupled with punchy lyrics “F*ck it Up Sis” Dangerous confirms that this warrior princess is about to murder them. Who’s them? Idk but you’d do well to jump on this wave.

Fancy is one of the singles already released off TAYDK and it sounds just as good as it did when it was first released. The bold 808 drums contrasted with Amaarae’s bubbly, eclectic voice make it the perfect jam for getting ready, pregaming, partying or just falling off. As long as you make sure to keep it FANCY when you do.

Fantasy reminds me of Passionfruit Summers Amaarae but overall delivers again a more seasoned audio experience. Both CKay and Maseu compliment the star’s whisper vocals bringing in several quotables for a modern RnB love duet that just makes you want to escape with your lover to pleasure island. With an infectious and memorable hook, Amaarae and the duo craft a story of passion and wanting, making it one of my personal favourites.

Leave Me Alone, another pre-release single off TAYDK continues to be a daring expression of self-actualization and freedom. With amazing replay value, the song’s fluidity and lightness versus its dark subject matter make it a sleeper hit.

Jumping Ship feels like Amaarae at her best. Whispering spicy explicit lyrics on a futuristic house tinted and electric guitar littered production, the star creates a genre-bending masterpiece. Then an assist by King of Alte music, Cruel Santino who does more than deliver with his classic, futuristic 3008 signature and patios styled verse. Amaarae + Santi is a combo I can always get behind. With British singer and rapper Kojey Radical holding down the chorus, the trio are more than formidable. The performance is like an elevated version of your favourite high school band playing at prom exactly when the nerdy protagonist enters the school dance looking hotter and happier than everyone expected.

Feel A Way is Amaarae deep in her Afromusic bag. On this tropical Afropop record, Amaarae, Moliy and Princess Adjua trade verses back and forth leaving the song dripping with seductive, slick voices. A certified island-style banger to bop to in the club, Feel A Way is perfect for breaking it down with your girls or catching a whine. And shouts to Moliy who just released her debut tape Wondergirl delivering the same quirky, afro-pop star vibe whilst holding her own against Amaarae. In seductive falsetto, the trio’s similar yet distinctive voices complete the head-bopping track. You can just imagine all the blurry Snapchat footage after a night of rinsing this song with your squad.

On a 1-minute 34-second length interlude, Amaarae lays down several quotables for the bad bihs who hold themselves in high esteem. Trust Fund Baby is dreamy and luxurious just like Amaarae and she knows it. The squeaking, slowed trap production allows for optimum sh*t talking, which is exactly what being a Trust Fund Baby is about. Still on the slower tempo vibe, Hellz Angel is stripped, simplistic yet witty. On a carnivalesque production crafted by fast-rising producer Rvdical The Kid, Amaarae takes the time to talk rap her shii. The sweet candy-landesque vibes against the hard-knocking drums sees Ama riding the beat like a seasoned pro, dropping cheeky in-your-face two-liners about how the princess gets down, ‘I don’t make songs bih i make memories’ ‘I dont like thongs coz they ride up in jeans’. Clearly in her bag and blessed, Amaarae the luxury rapper is here to stay.

Celine is serene. Slowing down the tempo again, this rich, fluid funky track sees Amaarae crooning for Celine on another electrified jazzy beat yet again produced by Rvdical. Admitting to her player ways but maintaining her desire for her “one and only Celine”, Amaarae crafts a romantic, yet cocky confessional love song. Now I am not sure if Celine is a bad bih or a luxury purse getting thicker as Amaarae rises through the charts but either way I am down. A breathy verse with sparse yet seductive adlibs by French singer and producer Kyu Steed seals the smooth, intergalactic vibe of Celine. The crafted relaxed atmosphere is then abruptly cut into by Six’s equal parts adorable and wild outro, suiting the energy of the tape and the atomic princess herself.

On Sad, U Broke My Heart Amaarae tries on a slowed Afroballad for size and let me just say that she murdered this. Hearing the Ghanaian American princess whisper sing in Twi is a rare occurrence but I treasure it and so should you. It’s no secret that Nigerians have adopted Amaarae into their family of alte superstars. Fondly called Amarachi by her stans from Nigeria, it’s no surprise Ama on 3 AM puts out this romantic, modernized Afrobeat song complete with Yoruba lyrics.

Sad Girlz Luv Money gives off this Afropop vibe. Starring Moliy yet again, the young songbird kills the first half of the track. Choppy yet melodic production coupled with savage lyrics like ‘get tf out of my way and just give me my mulla-la la’ ‘shawty wanna f*ck and uh I just want my space’ creates a raw but bright, infectious record. Dazed and Abused in Beverly Hills is short but delivers a necessary break in the LP’s cacophony of different sounds. The moody guitar and background harmonizing create the perfect palate cleanser for one more hit.

Party Sad Face/ Crazy Wurld is that hit. Featuring another Alte Overlord, Nigeria’s Odunsi the Engine. Known for his out of this world productions and memorable renditions, the two sign off the LP with another moody alte RnB track. The light piano key littered production gives us time to cool down and take in all that we’ve heard just before we cut to another rock-filled party outro as we exit the crazy world that has been Amaarae’s latest LP.

Overall, Amaarae consistently delivered across multiple genres and moods, perhaps the only thing missing is a faster rap record with those same hard, hitting lines but here’s hoping we can expect more from this atomic angel as she journeys further into her megastardom. And if this tape is anything to go off on, it’s that Amaarae is not letting up any time soon.

Want clear skin and a fat bank account? Stream TAYDK for powerful affirmations and the bad bih’s daily bread.

Watch here first times with iMullar as she talks us through most of her firsts.