Bbyafricka Gives Us Confidence & Evolution In Her First Rap Album “BIGAFRICKA”
By: Shakilya Lawrence
Summer is known for its music releases, and this year has not disappointed. There have been numerous releases from both upcoming and seasoned artists, though only some can stand out from the crowd of new music the industry’s been feeding us. BbyAfricka is one of those artists.
On June 25th, the Inglewood native released her second studio album, BigAfricka, a two-part, 14 song tracklist that displays her transition to rapping, her evolution as an artist, and the subsequent confidence that has followed in her artistry.
Her second album has been long-awaited by her fans. Earlier this year, she released two singles; one of them—“Irate”— saw social media success and gave listeners a glimpse into where she was in her journey as a rapper. The transition from alternative R&B singer to rapper has been happening over the past two years throughout her music. Her 2021 releases show the pinnacle of that growth within her artistry. She stepped into mainstream acclaim after collaborating with Saweetie for “Baby Mama Coochie” (Remix), her most successful song to date. Following the success of BMC, she released the leading single for BigAfricka, “Young Thug,” a tribute to the Atlanta rapper that further solidified why we need to be paying attention to her.
The album is an extremely easy listen being only 30 minutes long. She begins the album with the freestyle “No Hook,” a speedy track that sets the tone for the BigAfricka section. It's the longest song (at 3 minutes) and is the perfect introduction for her audience—old and new—to see who she is currently.
She embodies her sexual nature throughout the song while also giving us witty one-liners and whimsical wordplay. There is an eccentric delivery as she rides the beat, giving us ear-opening and striking lyrics from the jump. She lets us know immediately that this is who she is with lyrics like, “Everybody like me how I is. I’m just being myself.” It’s also clear she’s abandoned her old ways in her music because she’s stepped into a new season of her life, “I don’t wanna sing no more bitch, cuz I ain’t sad,” a common theme found in the following songs on BigAfricka. There is no denying confidence she’s gained, and this strong opening track sets the tone for the rest of the album.
“Young Thug” is another song that deserves immense praise and is another one of my favorites. From the opening lyrics, “I don’t even know, baby I’m drippin, yeah Scottie, I’m Pippin/ Baby mad, baby drip, had to let her go, she was fucking other people,” you can hear the Young Thug influence. Her pitch on this playful hook is reminiscent of Thug earlier in his career during his Barter 6 era. In this way, she pays homage to him. This is probably one of the only songs that stray away from the in-your-face sexual lyrics. However, once again, BbyAfricka doesn’t let up on lyricism and her stylistic features. While still smoothly riding the beat, she gives us odd timbres within her verses and more one-liners/punchlines to keep us engaged.
The second section of the album, BbyAfricka, begins with “On Me.” This part of the album includes songs from when she first began rapping. It’s subtle but there is a distinction between the two halves of this album. While the final songs are still true to who she is lyrically, you can tell she was still developing her sound and there was room for growth. It’s beautiful insight into how far she’s come in her artistry.
Other favorites from the album that deserve recognition include: “Rodgers Park”, “Atlanta”, “Gass”, and “Freddy Krueger.”
The West Coast/Californian influences are present throughout this album, from the way she effortlessly rides heavy-hitting beats while spitting sexual, clever, and sometimes abrasive lyrics to the occasional funk influences in her songs as seen in “Big Slime.” BbyAfricka is unique because even in her smooth delivery, the flow of each song is different. She experiments with different speeds, tempos, and pitches. Although many of her songs are provocative or assertive, she finds balance through clever delivery. BigAfricka has self-assurance behind it. You can tell she’s developed her musical sound and lyricism since beginning rapping. She knows what she wants to talk about and has defined her unique sound. The confidence in where she’s at in her artistry shines through her words as raps; she’s brash, has every reason to brag, and doesn’t hold back for anyone.
BbyAfricka is unapologetically her, and she doesn’t care who has a problem with it. I love this album because we get to see where she came from and where she is now. She embraces her sexual nature and doesn’t shy away from her aggression, two things women are usually shamed for. The confidence she exudes in every song is inspiring, and the way she remains lighthearted and witty in her music is a testament not to take life so seriously sometimes—just to live life, your way.
This is her moment. And I can’t wait to see what else BbyAfricka has in store for us.