By Odeisel
We have loved Free since 106 &Park with AJ. She was the perfect combination of down home beauty, style versatility, humor and of course, the big ole booty. But she’s always been more than meets the eye. She was an ice cold rapper who appeared on Canibus’ debut album with laser sharp lyricism. She’s also a singer and she applies this skillset on her latest track “She.” The song deals with the forcefield erected by fame that often prevents people from seeing the real person and leaves them stuck with the persona.
The slow sizzle of the track creates an easy line from the half singing half talking delivery employed on this song. There is intermittent synth and ambient digital sound effects. A spare key and digital drum complete the sparse production.
Free opens the track with a short Michelle N’Degeocello-like monologue murmur that leads to a softly crooned first verse. She’s got a soft, smoky delivery that isn’t pushed much within the confines of this song. It emits vulnerability and you get the sense that she really does want to be recognized for more than what people famously note about her.
She does have talent. She is committed to causes. But she depends on what makes her a star to carry enough attention to be able to operate those other facets of her personality. It’s a catch 22, and Free does a good job of expressing her predicament without desperation or exacerbation. She appreciates her position, she just wishes sometimes that people would look deeper. She’s no Mariah but her vocals are well arranged and not put in position to fail or get away from her natural range.
Free is exploring her options and while I like this song, she’s no singer. That doesn’t stop half the other girls in the R&B/pop lane, but Free is a bit long in tooth to start a career that way. There may be more to her, but hopefully that more includes more emceeing and less singing.
Free- “She”
Follow Us on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/planetill
Follow Odeisel on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/odeisel
Join Us on the Planet Ill Facebook Group for more discussion
Follow us on Networked Blogs
2 thoughts on “Free Gives Another Side Of Her Artistry With She”