Tinashe – “Popstar” review

Here we have the 5th studio LP from Lexington, Kentucky singer/songwriter, dancer & actress Tinashe. Breaking out over a decade ago off her first 3 mixtapes In Case We Die as well as Reverie & more specifically Black Water, her RCA Records-backed debut Aquarius was as well received as the latter although her debut EP Amethyst was moderately received & the 4th tape Nightride was seen as an improvement. She would later depart RCA following the sophomore effort Joyride going independent on both Songs for You & 333respectively to better reception again, coming off BB/Ang3l & Quantum Baby to sign with Atlantic Records for Popstar.

“Sunglasses” produced by Arca kicks things off singing about seeing straightforward tunnel vision whereas “Too Easy” blends ghettotech, pop rap & techno bass boasting that she makes this shit look simple. “Melatonin” could have a chance at becoming the best single of 2026 masterfully combining ghetto house, ghettotech, acid techno, electroclash, tech house & hip house singing about those sleeping on her prior to “Empty Stadium” sampling “Rebound” by Audrey Nuna describing the rush she gets when rehearsing.

We have Tinashe taking a more somber approach during “Flashbacks” apologizing to her partner for talking shit whenever she gets turned on while the 44 second “Overdramatic” feels underdeveloped because I really enjoy DJ Camper’s jazzy trap beat & the brief verse. “I’d Rather Be Alone” mixes elements of trap & alternative R&B depicting the unwillingness of continuing an unhappy relationship while “Crash Out” experiments with ratchet & hyphy retaining the PBR&B & pop rap textures losing her shit.

“Pillow Fight” begins the 2nd half showing a more playful side to herself singing about falling in love with someone instantly while “Nobody Wanna Dance Anymore” goes EDM to make some commentary regarding that specific scene that’s others have made equally well. “25/8” atmospherically finds herself going beyond the limits daily while & after the “The Show Must Go On” intermission, the title track brings us to the core advising against dating a Popstar.

The song “Brainrot” makes a bold comparison between her numbness towards insincere affection & the Internet culture phase popularized by Gen Z & Alpha that I found to be genuinely funny while “Cloud 9” warmly sings about being in paradise with basslines that keep hitting you in the chest. “Heavy Weight” spends the remaining minutes of the album stripping it back for an acoustic outro confessing she’s been carrying this baggage for some time.

Returning to a major label for the first time in almost a decade, Atlantic makes it up to everyone for the mediocre responses to Miley Cyrus’ own debut for the imprint Bass Persuades last weekend with what I’m sure many will consider Tinashe’s finest artistic statement for years to come. The alternative R&B, electronic dance music, post-dubstep, pop rap, alt-pop & UK bass production embodies her own definition of what makes a Popstar & she sounds more confident than she has previously.

Score: 4.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Tinashe – “Quantum Baby” review

Lexington, Kentucky singer/songwriter, dancer & actress Tinashe returning a year after her critically acclaimed 3rd EP BB/Ang3l to release a 4th EP. Breaking out over a decade ago off her first 3 mixtapes In Case We Die as well as Reverie & more specifically Black Water, her RCA Records-backed debut Aquarius was as well received as the latter although her debut EP Amethyst was moderately received & the 4th tape Nightride was seen as an improvement. She would later depart RCA following a mid sophomore effort Joyride going independent on both Songs for You & 333 respectively to better reception again. Looking to continue the momentum, she’s setting out to make Quantum Baby her 2nd consecutive classic EP.

“No Stimulation” starts with a stripped-back sound looking for the truth or in this case love whereas “Getting No Sleep” blends Jersey club & alternative R&B so she can sing about doing overtime. “Thirsty” goes for a delicate trap vibe instrumentally singing that she doesn’t wanna leave her man in a hurry while “Red Flags” strips the drums completely asking a bad boy to show her who he really is.

To start the 2nd half of the EP, the song “Cross That Line” addresses someone who could be the love of her life working some cloudy trap influences into the beat leading into the 2-parter “When I Get You Alone” promising her man she’ll take it nice & slow. “No Broke Boys” has a catchier feeling altogether telling the broke men to hit the bricks & “Nasty” finishes Quantum Baby asking if anyone will match her freak.

Hoping fans will enter her personal universe & rediscover her at the most fundamental & molecular level, the 2nd installment of the EP trilogy in comparison to the 1st entry really focuses more on getting to know Tinashe a little bit deeper continuing to wear the artistic/creative freedom that RCA wouldn’t grant her on her sleeve harder & allowing her full potential to further reveal itself.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Tinashe – “Joyride” review

joyride-edited-album-cover-exp-xl

It’s been 3 years of waiting & 2 years since preluding it with Nightride in 2016 but now, Tinashe is finally delivering her highly anticipated sophomore album. After a 1-minute intro, we go into the first song with the title track. It’s pretty much about kickin’ it with an ex over a thumping electronic instrumental from Hit-Boy. The song “No Drama” with Offset sees the 2 talking about how they don’t want any bs over an electro-trap beat while “He Don’t Want It” is pretty self-explanatory with a moody instrumental with some punchy drums.

The track “Ooh La La” is about a guy loving her so good that she’ll be singing all night over an acoustic guitar/trap beat with a surprisingly nice “Dilemma” sample in the background while the song “Me So Bad” is basically about how attractive Tinashe is over a tropical beat & while I did enjoy the Ty$ verse, I found French Montana’s to be redundant. After the “Ain’t Good for Ya” interlude, we go into the song “Stuck with Me”. It’s both Tinashe & Little Dragon singing about having this guy with him for the weekend, but the instrumental is just ok.

Then after the “Go Easy on Me” interlude, we go into the song “Salt”. It’s basically about a guy who had sex with her at a hotel & left her shortly after over an atmospheric instrumental. The track “Faded Love” is about Tinashe wanting a guy to come home with her to have sex over an electro-club instrumental & the Future verse at the back-end is just ok. The song “No Contest” is about Tinashe wanting only her in her man’s lane over a smooth electro instrumental & then the closer “Fire & Flames” is about wanting to stay the night with this guy over a bare piano that sounds pretty.

As a whole, I was as satisfied as I’d hoped to be. I wish it was a tad bit longer, but her vocals sound as beautiful as ever & the album as a whole sounds a lot more focused than Nightride was

Score: 3.5/5