2017 is already shaping up to be another great year in black entertainment with two new music offerings from Syd of The Internet fame and TDE’s SZA. Both have been teasing new material and have finally delivered on their word.
SZA’s new single, Drew Barrymore, has lyrics like, "I get so lonely I forget what I'm worth/We get so lonely we pretend that it's worse/I'm so ashamed of myself/think I need therapy." Telling Complex magazine about the single, SZA called the track “brown grunge” noting it could easily be the soundtrack to Never Been Kissed, hence the song’s title.
Reflecting on personal and sometimes dark issues is nothing new to SZA fans. Her lyrics have always appeared to be an open window to her heart and vulnerability. When discussing her current state of mind with Complex, she says, “My life has just been falling the fuck apart. I buried, like, three ex-boyfriends, my granny died, I buried someone two days ago… I’m devastated by the state of the world and the hatred.”
During the last few years, music has provided a great deal of projects that reflect the current state of the world, and SZA’s new offering may be the album that shows us another perspective. A release date has not been set.
The members of The Internet are embarking on solo projects, but don’t for one minute think they are splitting up. She tweeted:
AINT NO GOIN SOLO BIH, WE'LL BE PERFORMING THIS AT INTERNET SHOWS ONLY https://t.co/4qNZ6BADMm
— syd (@internetsyd) January 11, 2017
In Syd’s first solo track, the singer doesn’t step too far away from her bandmates. The production is provided by The Internet’s Steve Lacy, and its sound isn’t too far from Internet tunes like the hazy, Special Affair.
On Fin, the upcoming album due out Feb. 3, Syd has called MeLo-X and Hit-Boy to heighten her solo sound. Other producers will include Haze, Rahki, and more by Steve Lacy.
Contrary to SZA’s personal reflection approach, Syd told Pitchfork that the album is, “not that deep,” saying candidly, “For me, this is like an in-between thing–maybe get a song on the radio, maybe make some money, have some new shit to perform.” Either way, we're here for both of these artists kicking off the soundtrack to 2017.
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