Yaya Bey - do it afraid Review
do it afraid sees Yaya Bey celebrating nuance, and illuminating pockets of love in everyday life. It’s fearless, fruitful, life-affirming, and a beautiful testament to seeking serenity amidst the fire.
To New-York singer/song-writer Yaya Bey, we have to be afraid in order to be brave; And she embodies the duality of fear and abundant joy through 18 tracks that melt beautifully into hip-hop, R&B, soul, dance, and soca. do it afraid, sees Yaya Bey garbed in fearlessness, and nods to a way of living that illuminates peace, humor, and deep connectivity. The project addresses matters vulnerable, romantic, economically distressful, and celebratory, all while harboring confident footing in rhythmic dance sonics and self-affirming lyricism. With a life that guarantees ebb and flow, Yaya Bey teaches us that we can choose our perception; We can choose to flee for cover, or we can choose to dance proudly amongst our inexorable suffering. From “I just wanna dance, before it all ends” in the tender “no for real, wtf?” to the intimate composition of “a tiny thing that’s mine”, do it afraid showcases Yaya Bey’s soulful honesty, and full-faceted artistry.
The album is ushered in by track “wake up b*tch”, which prods at the treachery of modern societal landscapes. This is also the first moment we’re hit with the album's leading mantra of “If you want to be brave, first you gotta be afraid”. In the face of lies, recession, and governmental distrust, Yaya Bey articulates the cold, thickening truth with confidence, knowing that confrontation ruptures the modern-day inferno we find ourselves in. Yaya Bey fuels her punchy pen by acknowledging shame and fear, but only giving power to the path ahead that flourishes because of the willingness to embrace challenge, and swallow it whole.
“end of the world” feat. Nigel Hall & Butcher Brown beautifully enlivens a romantic spirit that finds presence in fleeting moments. Over a soft-humming drum that's carried by a sparkling electronic beat, Yaya Bey articulates an understanding of deeply foundational love, and how pure devotion clings to us tightly in the face of mortality. Amongst the silky melting of soul and subtle dance, this track finds a place to unleash sensuality, depth, and fondness of romantic human connection. In the same vein “real yearners unite” harvests the feelings of a love rich and ripened. This track exudes warmth with its softly plucked instrumentation and velvety vocals that are saturated with utter dedication to romance and trust. Yaya Bey closes the track with “I want a
love like, out of a dream, like the type of love that stops me in my track”; It’s filled with dreaminess, passion, and a search for a love that defies the ordinary, and embodies longevity.
Between the honey-thick romanticism, Yaya Bey also takes time to pay homage to dance music, specifically styled by her Barbadian roots. Soca track “Merlot and Grigio” feat. Barbadian artist Father Philis is a moment in the project of pure vibrance and movement. The Yaya Bey-produced track flowers mid-way through the album, and creates a beautiful thread between her American and Caribbean culture. It uplifts the boundless nature of the record, and blooms brightly next to her R&B, hip-hop, and soul tracks.
Another notable sonic highlight of the project is track “spin cycle”, a song that actually feels like it's spinning with an oscillating electric guitar and bellowing bass. This song harbors the intentionality being put into the craftsmanship of do it afraid; It feels as though she’s taken the length of the track to slow down time, and place her attention on presence, gratitude, and genuine connection. It’s tracks like “spin cycle” that remind us of Yaya Bey’s intention of illuminating moments of love, and finding healing and inner-peace within those vulnerable connections. DJ Harrison-produced “Rasins”, one of do it afraid’s lead singles, serves as a melting pot of burgundy-hued jazz and soul. The track’s intro quite literally melts in your ears as it commences. Yaya Bey caresses the track with unflinching trust, and certitude in the idea that life has a way of working itself out. She remarks “They say everything happens for a reason, and I believe them”, stressing that flow comes from allowing things to be.
Yaya Bey stresses the importance of dancing through it all, and track “in a circle” takes off as an invigorating highpoint in the project. With a bouncy club beat to accompany her vocals, Yaya Bey sings “got a light heart, a new point of view, and it’s workin’ too, and I’m throwin’ that ass around.” This track unravels pre-conceived narratives assumed of Yaya Bey, and uplifts her abilities to embody light and unwavering confidence. Her self-love flows so purely in this track, so much that you can feel the warmth in her voice each time she says “It’s a new day”. “aye noche” feat. Rahrah Gab and Exaktly is another tantalizingly addictive track. It inspires dance, self-assurance, and uncompromising femininity. (Enough to make you leave your man at home and hit the town with girls).
Both “aye noche” and “in a circle” are major focal points in do it afraid; Where “end of the world” seeks foundational love, these two tracks seek freedom, looseness, and movement. They find moments of energizing jubilation in the ravines of life, which brings us back to the starting point: do it afraid salutes to life’s nuances. Yaya Bey sees dance, pain, love, abundance, fear, enlightenment and everything in between, yet she hones in on light. She reminds us that our perception is our reality, and choosing to see the beauty will create the peace that we seek. do it afraid doesn’t abide by reductive narratives, but contrarily celebrates the fluidity of life’s experiences, and how they continually shape the soul.
There is suffering alongside joy, there is grief alongside love, and Yaya Bey commemorates it all, knowing it’s the moments that shape you that mean the most.