Still not over it

 

You could say that Summer Walker is an overnight sensation — years in the making. In 2018, at age 22, she got discovered and signed by Atlanta record label Love Renaissance (more specifically by a woman bearing the same name as her, as it happens). That same year, she released her first mixtape, Last Day of Summer, which charted in the Billboard top 50. Not bad for a debut mixtape. The year after, she released Over It, her first full length studio album. Which shot straight to #2 on the Billboard 200, won best album at the Soul Train Music Awards and was the most streamed LP by a female artist on Apple Music in 2020. Overnight.

This year, Walker came back with her sophomore effort, Still Over It (a clever title if you ask us). In the meantime, quite a few things happened in the young lady’s life: the world was turned upside-down (although that is more of a global change than one specifically present in the singer’s artistry), Walker gave birth to a daughter with boyfriend, producer and frequent collaborator London On Da Track. Then she and her producer boyfriend broke up. Quite a few things to talk about, that’s for sure…

And talk about it she does over here, straight from album opener “Bitter”, featuring an on-point narration by none other than Cardi B. The clear message here is to assert that Walker’s life choice are entirely hers, that people (and more specifically men) around her should never assume they hold any sort of control over her — or else they’ll be disappointed. “Screwin”, featuring Omarion, is another, even more blunt ode to girl power and women’s rights to anything they choose to go after, including freedom, sex and everything in-between. The rest of the album is equally frank, which clearly helped it reach the success that it has. Walker says out loud what too many (young) women (and some men to be sure) think to themselves…

The other interesting aspect of this album, as well as its predecessor, is the smooth production approach throughout. Even more so this time around, actually: Walker and her producing team (including the aforementioned London On Da Track) perfected a seemingly effortless yet highly stylised sound that incorporates all sorts of bits, beats and interesting mixing choices. All the while sounding so very cool: at the risk of being attacked by Team Drizzy, let us note her that Walker effectively comes out as a female Drake — with lyrics that are as straightforward as the beats they are sung on are subdued. If you think that’s a compliment, that’s because it is: can’t wait to see what comes next, from either camp!