Our obsession with rising artist Bella Blaq amped up this year when we experienced her eponymous 2024 album, Dirt Roads. Opening with autobiographical nature and a track called 13, Bella sets the tone with a captivating, blues piano soundscape, showcasing Bella Blaq‘s timeless nature, tripping into an immersive, progressive hip-hop trap energy with Bella delivering assertive, choral hooks, rapid fire prose and empowering constructs with a vintage nuance. Needless to say, we are in awe.
The record takes us on an evocative journey with reference to Bella’s lived experience, philosophies of life, ambitions, and perspective on reality. Hoes is a captivating moment, as Bella showcases her versatility as an artist and elegant singing voice. It feels like Bella’s influences are vast, and you will hear elements of rap icons in her flow, but there is no doubt that the emerging talent is manifesting a universe of her own.
Saved Me, which features Fya Man‘s ethereal presence on the record is a serene and delightful moment, allowing us to connect with the universe, before Cheat Code which takes on a more fierce character. The record as a whole showcases how Bella Blaq is a progressive, avant-garde independent artist who has released a genre-defying record tapping into hip-hop, blues, country, jazz, classical and pop elements.
Dirt Roads is a bold and innovative exploration of musical boundaries, and Bella Blaq‘s fearless approach to music is evident in every track on the groundbreaking record. Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of genres, she effortlessly fuses hip-hop beats with soulful blues melodies, twangy country riffs, classical music and catchy pop hooks to create a sonic landscape that is both daring and captivating.
There are even psychedelic and vintage, ancestral moments littered throughout, such as with Hello Love, Dear Mama 2 and Blaq Magic, which really demonstrates the connected and nurturing energy that Bella exudes. The empowering finale drama of Just Like Hov is expansive and we even hear Bella liken herself to a “cash cow like Doja” Cat. Overall, there is no doubt that Bella Blaq will continue to manifest greatness, and you can shop the record and learn more about the visionary artist via Bella Blaq’s link site.
