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The Philadelphia rapper and singer is understood for her playful facet, however she widens her subject material on World Broad Whack, with feelings starting from ecstatic happiness to the deepest despair.
DAVE DAVIES, HOST:
That is FRESH AIR. Philadelphia rapper and singer Tierra Whack is understood for her playful facet. She was nominated for a Grammy a couple of years in the past for a music video a few surreal go to to the dentist. However Whack’s new album, titled “World Broad Whack,” widens her subject material with feelings starting from ecstatic happiness to the deepest despair. Tierra Whack says she was influenced by the music of Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott, Eminem and Stevie Surprise. Rock critic Ken Tucker says this assortment of 15 songs shows a blinding number of moods and sounds and locations the 28-year-old artist on the forefront of hip-hop creativity.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “X”)
TIERRA WHACK: (Singing) Once I’m round you, I am not glad. You bought the job, however you are not certified. Discover somebody higher or, child, I would. Discover somebody higher or, child, I would. Yeah. Simply wait and see.
KEN TUCKER, BYLINE: That is Tierra Whack letting a man know he’s simply not slicing it as boyfriend materials. Over a drum beat you would possibly hear from a marching band, she bites off that opening line – after I’m round you, I am not glad. Her jokes listed below are strong. Explaining why it isn’t figuring out, she says, like Justin Timberlake, we’re not in sync. However there is a firmness in her voice that conveys an underlying seriousness and urgency. On the very subsequent track, she switches to a reasonably croon and a reasonably melody to yearn for a happiness she fears could solely be one thing she sees in a film.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “MOOVIES”)
WHACK: (Singing) You by no means take me to the films. Take me to eat. I am a foodie, boy. Get pleasure from. You by no means take me to the films. Take me to eat. I am a foodie, boy. Get pleasure from. Yeah. Larry took me to see one thing scary. Perhaps we might get married, merry-go-round. David took me to see “The Matrix.” Received me choosing out a robe. Mister, can you are taking me on adventures? Deal with me like your sister. Gotta present me love. Present me respect. Let’s make reminiscences we’ll always remember. I want love. It ain’t exhausting as you suppose. I would like the popcorn with the massive ol’ drink. I want love. Let’s catch the premiere. Tickets on sale, and there is love within the air. Yeah. You by no means take me to the…
TUCKER: The vary of feelings and the number of their expression solely start to recommend the pleasures of Tierra Whack’s new album. She put out a group in 2018 known as “Whack World” that consisted of 15 songs, every of which lasts precisely 60 seconds. That 15 in quarter-hour was directly a intelligent, attention-getting stunt and an ideal showcase for her witty vary. She refers back to the new “World Broad Whack,” nevertheless, as her debut album. It, too, incorporates 15 songs however of way more various size, and each the music and her lyrical issues have deepened. She’s able to a pleasant lightness, as on the tune “SHOWER SONG.” It is like one of the best “Sesame Road” track Kermit or Miss Piggy by no means recorded.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “SHOWER SONG”)
WHACK: (Singing) I sound nice after I’m singing within the bathe. Cleaning soap and water give me powers after I’m singing within the bathe. That is funky. Preparing for my day. So I obtained to get recent. Received to exfoliate. You understand Dove is one of the best. I ain’t by no means in no rush. I am performing like a serious. And I heard my cellphone ring, however I am going to name them again later. Sing it like Whitney. Sing it like Britney. Sing it like Aretha. Sing it like Alicia. I sound nice…
TUCKER: In a single track after one other, Tierra Whack describes conditions and relationships she’d prefer to have and which regularly elude her grasp. She desires to be taken on an old school date to the films, or she’ll say she desires a male pal who’ll relate to her in a brother-sister method. Or she desires somebody who’ll be as variety to her as her imaginary pals are.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “IMAGINARY FRIENDS”)
WHACK: (Rapping) How can I be lonely after I’m hanging with my homie? His title is Tony and he is sporting blue saconys. He is standing proper subsequent to me consuming ravioli. He is my solely pal as a result of the remainder of y’all are phony. My final greatest pal stated he wished he did not know me. His title was Oscar, and he actually harm my emotions. Once I develop up, I wish to dangle from a ceiling. The roof is leaking. The roof is leaking teardrops at all times obtainable. The right companion. Very understanding and swore to by no means abandon. He fills the hole in my tooth. Once I’m bitter, he is candy. The higher half of me. Nobody else can compete with my pal. We argued right this moment…
TUCKER: As sunny as Tierra Whack might be, three songs right here – “NUMB,” “TWO NIGHT” and “27 CLUB” are about melancholy, demise, and at the least as soon as particularly, suicide. The conviction she brings to her performances is chilling. On “NUMB,” she’s so listlessly despairing she will be able to barely deliver her mouth to enunciate the phrases. And the track titled “27 CLUB” refers back to the age at which quite a lot of pop stars comparable to Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse died. And Tierra Whack sings with delicate magnificence about the potential for becoming a member of them.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “27 CLUB”)
WHACK: (Singing) I can present you the way it feels if you lose what you’re keen on. When the world looks as if it is in opposition to you. When your family and friends neglect you. It ain’t actually exhausting to persuade you. On the lookout for one thing to decide to? Suicide.
TUCKER: I am very glad that Tierra Whack is now 28 years outdated, and that the wealthy, imaginative world she builds over the course of “WORLD WIDE WHACK” has turn out to be a spot by which she actually desires to dwell.
DAVIES: Ken Tucker reviewed Tierra Whack’s new album known as “WORLD WIDE WHACK.” On tomorrow’s present, why Oregon’s groundbreaking experiment with decriminalizing possession of exhausting medicine is coming to an finish. In 2020, voters overwhelmingly authorized decriminalization, however painful outcomes generated a backlash that spurred lawmakers to reverse course. We’ll communicate with New Yorker contributing author Tammy Kim, who’s lined the difficulty. I hope you’ll be able to be a part of us.
To maintain up with what’s on the present and get highlights of our interviews, comply with us on Instagram at @nprfreshair.
(SOUNDBITE OF TIERRA WHACK’S “SNAKE EYES”)
DAVIES: FRESH AIR’s government producer is Danny Miller. Our technical director and engineer is Audrey Bentham, with extra engineering assist this week from Adam Staniszewski. Our interviews and opinions are produced and edited by Amy Salit, Phyllis Meyers, Ann Marie Baldonado, Sam Briger, Lauren Krenzel, Heidi Saman, Therese Madden, Thea Chaloner and Susan Nyakundi. Our digital media producer is Molly Seavy-Nesper. Roberta Shorrock directs the present. For Terry Gross and Tonya Mosley, I am Dave Davies.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “SNAKE EYES”)
WHACK: (Rapping) Break a leg what they informed me. I am simply driving with my OG. Did a cope with Adobe. Gold ring across the rosie. Roll the window down slowly. Allow them to know that he owe me. They name me the one and solely. Onerous occasions simply mildew me. I simply extra. Comme des Garcons cozy. Yeah. North Philly with a hoagie. Deal with the followers like homies. Give a tip, Ton Mozeby. Preserve it clear like soapy. Turtleneck attempt to choke me. Too sharp, cannot poke me. I am with Zack like Cody. Toes white like Jody. Tooth white like Joey. Ever since we misplaced Kobe, I been balling on my lonely. Horsepower, that is a pony. Do it huge, Mick Foley. Telephone lifeless if you happen to phony. My cellphone lifeless, you’ll be able to’t cellphone me. All of them upset ‘trigger I am a risk. You wish to guess? Developing subsequent. I work so exhausting. Blood, tear and sweat. I work so exhausting…
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