When it comes to music, there’s nothing wack about the 26-year-old but her name. Tierra Whack is one of the most talented rappers of our time, and that’s not gender specific. With the release of her three new EP‘s ”RAP?”, ”POP?”, and ”R&B?”, she’s here to prove it again.
Whack’s personality and ingenuity has landed her deals with Lego, Vans, and Apple. Most notably, her lyrical talents are critically acclaimed. In 2018, Tierra Whack released her debut studio album, Whack World. The album is accompanied by visuals for each song. Reaching just 15 minutes in its entirety (each song a minute or less), the album displays creative genius. It is bright, melodic, bar-heavy, and paired with refreshing imagery. Outside of her work, you can find comedic skits and videos of Whack rapping on Instagram. She doesn’t need much to showcase what she is capable of. She has been featured on records with Lil Yachty, Flying Lotus, and Beyoncé. Yet, on her own projects, all with no features, she shows she doesn’t even need a co-sign.
RAP?
The title ‘Rap?’ Feels like she’s reminding you all of what she originally came to do. The comedy, eccentric colors, and style, could have some of her recent fans confused. But, if the question is ‘RAP?’ for this three song EP, Tierra’s answer is ‘Yes’. She is witty in her lyrics and still makes it fun with her flows and beat selections.
The tracks in order are ‘Stand Up’, ‘Meagan Good’, and ‘… Millions’. She opens the EP with ‘Stand Up’, a confident lyrical comparison between the real and the fake ones. Whack released an accompanying video where she poses regally as a queen (of rap?) who is unamused with all the jesters who have come to entertain her. A clever visual metaphor that we have come to expect from her.
In ‘Meagan Good’, named after the actress we love to see in romantic roles, Whack gets a bit personal. A side we don’t often see, she raps about the trials of a failed relationship. She then closes the EP with ‘…Millions’ that summarizes where she is currently – proud of her accomplishments and still aspiring for more.
POP?
Similar to Whack World, fans will undoubtedly wish the EP was longer but, her strategy in the age of streaming and low attention spans is ideal. And obviously successful. That’s why she has released another EP titled “POP?” just a week after “RAP?”.
The additional three song project is another display of Whack’s lyrical skills. This time with more vocals backed by mostly guitar instrumentals. Aptly titled “POP?”, it does lend itself to the genre. It opens with ‘Body of Water’, a fun and fast paced track where you can hear and see Outkast’s influence (with Whack’s bob cut and green statement outfit). The video centers people evolving into dolphins which, in its oddity is a perfect fit to the song.
Next up is ‘Lazy’, just as upbeat as ‘Body of Water’ but funnier. The opening lyrics are “Get your own money, you’ve been spending all mine, baby/ My sofa’s sinking in because your behind’s lazy”. Whack chronicles a relationship with a man who is broke – a terrible combination that makes for a great song. The EP closes with ‘Dolly’, where she pairs the most singing we have heard so far with the personal subject of time and debating how to use it well.
R&B?
“R&B?”, the latest and presumably the last installment of the EP trio, follows the same format as the EPs released prior. Three songs and a music video. As the title suggests, this project displays Whack’s somber take on R&B. We get more singing, background vocals, harmonies, synths, and repetition all while keeping a solid baseline throughout. In the opening track ‘Heaven’, Whack vocalizes “Heaven has all my favorite people/ I wanna go there/ and do a show there” setting the tone of the EP. In the video, she steps away from the common perception of heaven (bright and white) as we see her dressed in black, walking through darkness. The only visible light comes from the storm under her own umbrella.
‘Cutting Onions’ follows with the same darkness. Whack sings and raps of the sorrow she has been fighting after her grandmother’s passing. She pairs the light hearted image of cutting onions with the heavy mental weight of grieving tears. Alongside her vocals, this song has more percussion and features a bit of melodic rap. The track, ‘Sorry’, concludes with an overall apology to a loved one, the chorus repeating, “Please dont stay too mad at me for long.” Whack slurs and mumbles her flows while taking accountability for her part in a tumultuous relationship.
No question marks needed – she can do it all.
It seems the broken hearted turtle mascot has enough masked hands to hold. Judging by the cover art, this may be the end of Tierra Whack’s December drops. Though they are each three songs, this set of EP’s together are nine songs – a standard amount for an EP (and hopefully enough new music to keep fans from demanding an album). When it comes to rolling out music and creating in general – you can expect the unexpected from Tierra Whack. Speculation aside, there’s no question that her artistry spans genres. Stream sister EPs, “RAP?”, ”POP?”, and “R&B?” and see if you have a favorite. Watch the videos for ‘Stand Up’, ‘Body of Water’, and ‘Heaven’ as well!
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