After contributing vivid RnB vocal melodies with other acts, Kansas City's own TheBabeGabe is bringing y2k Pop It Girl aesthetics and an authentic love of music into something of her own.
HONEYPOP is the culmination of years of practice, dedicating time and energy to crafting with your friends, and admiring art and the game, all phonetically tied together in an emersion of sound and style by TheBabeGabe.
Gabe is 1/3 of the group BLACKSTARKIDS, where her contributions were mainly providing cutesy sung lines and the occasional raps, but HONEYPOP gives Gabe the space to showcase her lyrical ability and sense of musicality and she wastes no time doing so.
Gabe understands her strengths as an artist and showcases a knack for writing at every angle, utilizing multiple songs on the project to touch on a different style. It breathes a sense of understanding of the material itself. Although it's her debut as a solo act, Gabe is no stranger to the mic, providing thought-provoking bars and stylish choruses all in the same breath.
While Gabe is a singer and rapper, she is undoubtedly a music fan first and that love of the art bleeds throughout the project. One stand-out example is "1999," a ferocious nod to her upbringing and loved ones, but Gabe adds an extra layer to the meaning of the title. The chorus is playful and sees the rapper taking on an airy voice and delivery, reminiscing of mid-90s rap. This is just one of the many moments where Gabe musically shouts out her contemporaries.
There needs to be a lot more attention on the production side of things. Production present throughout the entire album is provided by The Human, a duo made up of TyFaizon & Medici, two creatives who have been working with Gabe for most of her professional career. All of them share the same Kansas City experiences and love of mutual music, resulting in a deep chemistry that shines through the entire album.
Gabe showcases a lot of different styles in her bag, a la a love for 90's Hip Hop, early 2000s Pop beats, and RnB and The Human manages to capture the energy from each lane perfectly. They have a dynamic range, capturing the same, raw elements of their influences, without falling into tropes or oddly familiar territory. The appreciation for the art is present and the two bring the absolute best out of each other.
HONEYPOP showcases a love for art and love for creation with your friends and demonstrates the importance of understanding the origins of your craft. It delivers a variety of styles, executed in a refreshing manner, never leaving a stale moment. If you have never heard of TheBabeGabe, now is the perfect time to hop on the wave.
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