Album Review: Rae Khalil Explores New Horizons and Pushes Boundaries on New Record CRYBABY

There's one rule I try to follow while on my quest to deep dive an album a week until the end of the year. To not abide by genre and trail in uncharted territories as much as possible and I feel that's the guidance Rae Khalil was following while creating her brand new record CRYBABY with the help of legend Anderson .Paak and longtime collaborator Jared Rubens who she has been working since 2018.

"I think it was great for me to have someone like Anderson on this album to run off my ideas and him say, ‘How can you take these to greater heights?’”, she elaborates.

California-born, Rae Khalil grew up inspired by a broad range of genres and cultures ranging from jazz, soul, and r&b, all the way to punk and rock. It was a faithful encounter with the music of Chance the Rapper and Wu-Tang Clan that nudged her in the direction of hip hop which led to an urge to create her own music. Following her debut album Girlfriend (2018) with Jared Rubens, Rae appeared on Netflix's Rhythm and Flow - a pivotal part of her journey and the reason I discovered her music in 2019. That whole thing was a stepping stone to working with Free Nationals and landing on .Paak's radar, who eventually signed her on her record label APE SHIT.

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Fast-forward to August 9th, 2024 and we're witnessing a brand new page in the book of Rae Khalil and a worthy successor of her sophomore album FORTHEWORLD (2020). The album is vibrant and groovy, reinforcing Rae's multi-faceted abilities, especially on tracks like "CISCO's SONG" and the 80s synth anthem "COME HOME" featuring Khal!l.

“This album for me was such an amazing rollercoaster ride to make,” she elaborates, “but I was also pushed to my limits of how far can you take these songs and when are you able to say, ‘Okay, this is enough. I’ve done it.’”

I spent the weekend rolling through the record and each listen I felt like I discovered something new and fell in love with a new track. I like how different some songs are and the freedom CRYBABY evokes. By opening up her process and turning her focus inward, Khalil is challenging herself to be more honest and vulnerable, something you can pick if you dive into the lyrics on the records starting with the first single she dropped in March - "IS IT WORTH IT". Recorded while in New York with Anderson .Paak and Alissia Benveniste (who has worked previously with Mary J. Blige), the song's silky vocals, retro soul vibe, and atmospheric production set the stage for a theme of empowerment.

Throughout the album, she shares her journey, struggles, growth, and all the moments in between while keeping things light.

One of the tracks that instantly stood out for me was "SHE'S A BORE". I loved the old-school funky feel that came with the intro and the carefree soul sample that's used as a backdrop. Speaking on the song and where would be the best place to listen to it, she shares, "Jammed up in a traffic jam. Definitely somewhere you are in a solitary moment.”

For those seeking the more slow burner, ballad kind of things, look no further than "BIETTERSWEET" - the perfect soundtrack to those late-night intimate talk sessions with your partner.

With collaborators like Benny Sings, Tiana Major9, Freddie Gibbs, and Zacari, and given her natural talent and abilty to bend emotions, it goes without saying - this multi-dimensional record has a lot to offer and is a perfect way to peek into the complex, alluring world of Rae Khalil's creativity.