For the love of all that is dank in the world of soulful beats, do not let Snoh Aalegra’s Don’t Explain fly under your radar. An excellent bluesy production from Chicago-born No I.D. pairs beautifully with Swedish singer-songwriter Aalegra’s soulful vocals in a uniquely cinematic portrait of the R&B inspired femme fatale.
She can even be caught channeling the raspy tone of Amy Winehouse, especially in “Under The Influence,” where the listener is planted into the smoky front row of a ’40s cigar club seen depicted in any decent film noire.
This tasty little EP is capable of grabbing the attention of any listener fond of Ghostface Killah and BADBADNOTGOOD’s collaborative 2015 release, Sour Soul, as the second track remixes the instrumental backbone from “Stark’s Reality.”
The black and white aesthetic crafted by the boys at BBNG seems like it was made for Aalegra’s voice and her voice alone. Don’t Explain is her first release since the 2014 project, There Will Be Sunshine, which boasted more of a jazzy pop vibe. Aalegra is an artist who has worked with the likes of Vince Staples and Common so expect to see her dive deeper into the realm of hip-hop in the future. She will most definitely make a show of it.
Recommended If You Like: BADBADNOTGOOD, Ghostface Killah, Amy Winehouse,
Recommended Tracks: 2 (In Your River), 4 (Home), 5 (Don’t Explain), 6 (Under The Influence)
Do Not Play: None
Written by Cody Boston on 04/21/16