Review
Let me tell you, Amaarae's 2025 album, "BLACK STAR", is quite the ride! This record truly shows her artistic growth, moving away from some of the New Wave and pop tones she explored on her previous work. Instead, she gives us this wonderfully bold, dance-infused collection, bursting with collaborators like PinkPantheress, Charlie Wilson, and even the iconic Naomi Campbell. You can hear bits and pieces from four decades of pop music woven throughout, with subtle winks to artists like Cher and even Gucci Mane, all wrapped up in 13 energetic tracks. It's a real fiesta for your ears!
What I truly appreciate about "BLACK STAR" is how it really digs into themes of identity and finding your strength. Amaarae really lays out her own journey towards feeling confident in herself and holding true to her artistic vision. For instance, the track "Kiss Me Thru the Phone Pt. 2" with PinkPantheress is such a clever nod to that old Soulja Boy jam, but it's got this super fresh, modern techno vibe that just works. And get this: the track "ms60" features a whole monologue from supermodel Naomi Campbell, adding such a unique layer of cultural commentary! This kind of daring experimentation and lively spirit really cements Amaarae as a vibrant and innovative artist in today's music scene. - Sofia
Artist Bio
Amaarae is a Ghanaian-American singer, songwriter, and producer who grew up moving between the US and Ghana, and began releasing music with her debut EP, Passionfruit Summers, in 2017. Known for her genre-blending style that merges pop, R&B, afrobeats, and alté, Amaarae gained international recognition with her 2020 album The Angel You Don’t Know, especially after the single “Sad Girlz Luv Money” went viral on TikTok and charted globally following a remix with Kali Uchis. Continuing to receive critical acclaim, she released her album Fountain Baby in 2023, which further showcased her distinctive sound and bold exploration of gender and identity themes. Amaarae has worked with artists like Moliy, Stonebwoy, and Kojey Radical, and her music draws comparisons to acts such as Santi, Tems, and Rema. Overall, she is known for her innovative approach to African music and for challenging conventional boundaries in style and subject matter.
