Sofaygo is an interesting case when it comes to career management in the modern music landscape. The Michigan-born Atlanta resident released some of his most popular tracks in 2019 and 2020, but he went virtually radio silent after signing to Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack label in early 2021.

After months of anticipation and the release of a short precursor EP, SoFaygo released his debut album “Pink Heartz.” Whether it lives up to the hype is up for debate.

“Out” brings big energy to the beginning of the project and finds SoFaygo completely in his element. A wavy and synthetic instrumental scores a confident set of verses from SoFaygo while his signature vocal manipulations bring another layer of melody to the song. It’s slick, fun, and catchy, and feels like a perfect tone-setter for the project.

“Hell Yeah” enlists Ken Carson, known for his rage-rap style. Although it’s Carson’s signature, SoFaygo sounds right at home as well. The distorted sirens layered over deep booming bass and trap drum hits are the perfect backdrop for both artists’ energetic deliveries. The track is quick, fun, and radically exciting.

“Blitz V2,” while not as bold as other tracks, is one of the most engaging songs on the project. SoFaygo reflects on his successes and how far he has come, but a greater focus on lyrics doesn’t sacrifice his unique vocals or delivery.

“Everything I got on this side it was a risk / Nah I don’t think I regret anything I did,” he says. This reflective track does feel a bit out of place so early in the track list, but it’s an incredibly solid song nonetheless.

SoFaygo flourishes on “Stay Awake,” another highlight. His melodic chorus combined with a more downtempo instrumental creates one of the most relaxed songs on the record. A great guest appearance from Lil Uzi Vert only adds fuel to the fire.

 “I’ll Say” is one of the most interesting tracks on the album. This is partly because it is the only one to feature a beat switch. While the song’s intro is just alright, the beat switch around the 1-minute mark sees SoFaygo finding a fantastic groove and excelling sonically.

“Price” continues this streak and features one of the most interesting instrumentals on the project. Distant electric guitars meld perfectly with atmospheric synths to create a vibe unlike any other on the album. The song feels laid-back, mesmerizing, and airy.

“Greed” brings the energy back up and is another definite highlight. Hearing SoFaygo over horns was very unexpected, but he executes his style flawlessly over such a great instrumental.

While “Pink Heartz” has plenty of commendable ideas, it is vastly inconsistent. Certain tracks feel uninspired or sometimes just too long, and this creates quite a drag on a project that is nearly an hour in length.

Songs like “Me Too” and “Goin Back” are incredibly bland and boring. “Fasho” and “Slip” go on far too long and are simply not as engaging. The amount of songs that bog the project down leave it feeling like a mixed bag, and the album would have benefited from a few cuts to the track list.

Although “Pink Heartz” is brought down by multiple unnecessary songs, SoFaygo does still shine as an innovative voice in modern hip-hop. The project, while flawed, showcases his burgeoning talents and brings some solid ideas to the table.

One can hope that SoFaygo will release a more consistent and solid project in the future. I have no doubt that he is capable of it.

SoFaygo – Pink Heartz: 5.4/10

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Over the last several years, Smino has seemingly exploded into the modern hip-hop and R&B scenes. The St. Louis natives’ 2017 debut album “blkswn” and its 2018 follow-up “NOIR,” while not the most popular releases of each year, earned him a dedicated fanbase.

Several appearances on 2019’s “Revenge of the Dreamers III” from J. Cole’s Dreamville label brought him even further into the limelight, but Smino kept a relatively low profile in the years following. The wait is over, and “Luv 4 Rent” proves that Smino wasted no time.

“No L’s” is a perfect introduction to the album, and features spaced out deliveries from Smino. The lyrics are scored excellently by a twinkling instrumental sample with heavy bass hits beneath it. The track is incredibly relaxed, and it’s hard to not match Smino’s energy while listening.

The same goes for “90 Proof,” which pairs a beautiful guitar lead with organic drums and light background vocals. Smino’s voice twists and turns with the melody, and he sings of finding a love better than anything he has had before. “I’m gettin’ used to bein’ loved, girl, the right way,” he sings.

A fantastic guest appearance from J. Cole opens up with a shoutout to his wife. “I got a real one, if I was broke, she never would leave me, no,” Cole says. The song sees Smino flourishing lyrically and vocally, and the aforementioned J. Cole appearance feels like an alley-oop to close out the track beautifully.

“Pro Freak” is hard to describe with words alone. Stellar vocals, incredibly layered and lush instrumentation, and top-notch energy create a vibe unlike anything else on the project. The track feels perfectly crafted for a barbecue or a downtown drive in the spring with the windows down. Wherever you play it, it’s endlessly infectious and replayable. Quick and punchy bass hits along with a subdued guitar lead keep heads bobbing consistently.

A wide array of backing vocals feel excellently matched with Smino’s relentlessly smooth delivery. A dizzying assist from Doechii keeps things energized. To top it off, a beat switch near the end hands the microphone back to Smino for one of his few rap verses on the project. The song is about as close to perfect as it gets, and will be on repeat for months to come.

The project’s pure joy continues on “Matinee.” This quick, cute, and flirtatious ballad brings yet another helping of Smino’s incredibly diverse vocal inflections. Lines such as “I don’t text her, let it fester, I don’t stress her, I just stretch her” and “If it’s cold, I Moncler her, make no error” perfectly emphasize the track’s playful nature. The simple but gorgeous instrumental puts a beautiful bow on the song.

“Settle Down” is another absolute standout and brings the energy up to 11. A fantastic guitar lead, bouncing drums and bass, and light background vocals feel like they’re ripped from the Earth itself. Smino continues to amaze vocally. Ravyn Lenae brings her signature feathery vocals into the mix, and her outro to the track stuns as well. Smino sings about doing his best and having no stress, and the song is likely to have the same effect on the listener.

“Pudgy” with Lil Uzi Vert is one of the most interesting songs on the album, with a unique saxophone-trap instrumental. This fantastic beat feels perfectly crafted for Smino, but Lil Uzi Vert somehow feels right at home on an instrumental that very few fans would expect to hear him on.

“Curtains” is one of the most emotionally poignant moments on the album. Smino utilizes a more simple instrumental to allow his voice to take center stage. The song bounces between multiple themes and ideas, including friends, wealth, love, and family. “I bought the big ol’ body with the pretty wheels, riding with the ones from when it was ugly,” Smino sings.

The album ends with “Lee & Lovie,” and Smino certainly could not have chosen a more perfect outro. The song is a testament to love in every sense, with Smino highlighting both romance and the importance of self-love. A twinkling and stunning instrumental provides the perfect backdrop for such beautiful speech, and the album ends just as fantastic as it began.

In an interview with Complex regarding “Luv 4 Rent,” Smino stated that “Self-love is definitely a big theme on this album, and I also think another way to interpret it is I was leading other people to self-love, too.”

His statement rings true throughout the entire project, as it’s nearly impossible to listen without feeling overcome with some sort of love or happiness. “Luv 4 Rent” feels like Smino truly coming into his own as an artist, and the project brings with it some of the best R&B/Hip-hop songs of the year.

Smino – Luv 4 Rent: 8.5/10

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Carly Rae Jepsen has had an interesting musical career to say the least. The Canadian pop star exploded into the mainstream with 2012’s “Call Me Maybe,” a relentlessly catchy track that was inescapable for years. After this viral success, Jepsen’s recent releases have been enjoyed primarily by a smaller, dedicated fanbase. These fans consistently praise her creativity and dedication to making authentic pop music rather than churning out chart-topping hits.

In an interview with Vogue, Jepsen said, “I feel like I actually have something to say now because I’ve lived some life. Now I can finally start writing the good stuff!” After listening to “The Loneliest Time,” it’s hard to argue with her assertion. Carly Rae Jepsen continues to produce some of the most engaging throwback jams in the pop scene today.

“Surrender My Heart” opens the album with emotional lines such as “So I’ve been tryin’ hard to open up, when I lost someone, it hit me rough” and “I paid to toughen up in therapy, she said to me, ‘Soften up.’” The song contrasts these lyrics with explosive energy. “I’m out here in the open, I wanna get closer, I’ll believe in you every night,” Jepsen loudly proclaims. She sounds motivated, excited and eager. The gorgeous instrumental surges back up her upbeat attitude.

The album’s third single, “Talking to Yourself,” hits all the right notes, using catchy vocal hooks and dance-worthy instrumental leads. Jepsen flourishes vocally over smooth guitars and drums that feel pulled straight from the 1980’s.

“Far Away” is a beautiful, airy track accentuated by suspended piano keys and distant horns. Simplistic synths surge with joy during a purely euphoric chorus. Like walking amongst the clouds, the lyrics add to the instrumental’s pure happiness. “Just tell me you need me side by side, the sweetest words of my whole life… I’d like to get to know you, let me kiss all of these tears coming down,” Jepsen sings.

The album temporarily suspends the energy with “Bends,” a stunning, bare track. A minimalistic synth instrumental provides an excellent backdrop for Jepsen’s breathy and light vocals. Emotion seeps through every moment of the song and highlights Jepsen’s immense vocal talent.

“Go Find Yourself or Whatever” takes this one step further, using simple organic guitar leads and light drums for an incredible vocal performance. “Maybe when my heart’s done breaking, then I could forgive what you tried,” Jepsen sings.

“Shooting Star” is the album’s strangest song, yet exciting and uplifting. The warped vocals feel out of place but perfect at the same time, melding with the wavy instrumental to create an exciting groove. The track is relentlessly blissful and marks an absolute highlight for the project.

The album closes with “The Loneliest Time,” and to call it a breathtaking finale would not do it justice. The duet with Rufus Wainwright feels like the auditory equivalent of ending the project with a show-stopping firework display. It’s hard to find a song in recent memory that feels this celebratory. Strings, synths, keys, drums, and magnificent vocals all come together for a phenomenal closer that feels nostalgic, radiant, and above all else, truly magical.

Carly Rae Jepsen continues to prove herself as a force to be reckoned with in the modern music sphere. “The Loneliest Time” contains some of the most exciting pop tracks of the year. While the track list does have the occasional dud such as “Western Wind” or “So Nice,” the highs outshine the lows on an album that pushes pop into exciting new horizons. Anybody looking for something fresh and exciting should check it out immediately.

Carly Rae Jepsen – The Loneliest Time: 8.0/10

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