North Philadelphia native Tierra Whack has done it again, shaking up the games of hip-hop and R&B with her sophomore studio album, “WORLD WIDE WHACK.”
This emotionally personal record showcases the internal struggles and triumphs that Whack faces in her life as an experimental artist and, more importantly, a human being. The Grammy-nominated artist is known for her silly songs that shock the Internet left and right. While staying in that realm for this tape, she takes a semi-stable approach to sharing her feelings with the world.
The singles leading up to the album set the stage for the topics that we get from Whack. “CHANEL PIT” is the first single. It has a childlike xylophonic melody and hard-hitting 808s. The confident lyrics on this track come back throughout the tape, like in the other lead single, “SHOWER SONG,” which quite literally is a song about Whack getting an energy boost from singing along to her favorite tunes in the shower, feeling like Whitney Houston and Britney Spears. I love the simple synth-disco production and the fun nature anybody can enjoy.
The last single, “27 CLUB,” is different from the rest, prioritizing the mental pain and suicidal thoughts that roam through Whack’s head. I am intrigued by how she makes the double entendre of suicides in the context of mental anguish and athletic training, allowing us to see how her pain affects her physically. This song is easily one of the best she has released. These early singles demonstrate how easily Whack can flow on different styles of music, from banging hip-hop cuts to slower alternative R&B tracks.
As gripping of an artist Whack is, and her creative experimentation always leaves me shaken, I must admit every song has a similar energy. While the consistency is admirable, I found it effortless to pinpoint how almost every song is either about being disappointed in a relationship like in “MOOVIES” or “ACCESSIBLE,” or about her success and how she is proud to be herself in “MS. BEHAVE” and “MOOD SWING.”
There are a select few songs that talk about morality and depression, including “NUMB” and “TWO NIGHT.” I noticed more songs about disappointment than her confidence, but she best articulates this simple formula through her unique stories and funny disposition. On “X,” Whack goes on about how she is dating a bum with some of the most hilarious lyrics to describe him and their dilemma. “Just like a website, he beggin’ to link/I went to his house, and his sofa was stink,” had me burst out laughing.
“IMAGINARY FRIENDS” was another favorite, where Whack lectured about the importance of her friendship with an imaginary friend named Tony. All of her friends find it weird and unsettling, but Tony will forever be her best friend, even if they argue. I love this song so much because it allows me to imagine Whack and a blue Sesame Street Muppet having an argument and seeing steam exit Tony’s nose, and he storms off in the traditional Muppet movement.
People forget that Whack can spit bars, mainly because her best-rapped songs are comedically personal, whereas most lyrical rappers emit verses about politics and social issues. Her flow reminds me of a young Kendrick Lamar, but the production comes straight from a SZA record. Outside of making silly songs sound thought-provoking, Whack also struggles with accepting criticism from others. I am fascinated by the change in opinion she makes about this topic. One minute, she can write “SNAKE EYES” about how she plans to make her haters weep over her success, but then she will create “BURNING BRAINS” about being drained by the constant complaining from a loved one.
As zany as she can be, she has become the voice for those kids like myself who were called weird in high school, allowing her fans to get a better look through her life beyond the unusual outfits, bizarre production, and wacky characters like Tony, the imaginary friend. In “WORLD WIDE WHACK,” Whack produces a thrilling blend of humor, vulnerability, and originality, hardening her position as a dynamic force in experimental hip-hop and R&B. Her sophomore album not only makes known her irregular storytelling and versatile flow but also provides a glimpse into the complexities of human emotion, making her a relatable figure for fans worldwide.
