Blackbear, Help | Album Review 💿

Blackbear shares his demons & showcases tremendous potential on his latest effort, Help. He doesn’t rewrite the R&B script, but, it’s solid.

“Don’t stop what you’re doin’, white boy.”  Hollywood R&B singer Blackbear gives an interesting assessment of himself lyrically. ’ On Help, he proves he can sing. He has both illuminating potential and talent. Help enough to propel the indie artist to superstar status? Probably not, but he’s certainly doing something right on Help.

“Don’t Stop”

Help opens with ✓ “Don’t Stop,” where the opening quote is lifted. Slickly produced, moody contemporary R&B, Blackbear is part of the Drake universe of R&B – highly influenced with pop-rap. It totally works. ✓ “Oh Lord” is deeper, referencing “the plug.”  Additionally, the record features lyrics such as, “White on white on white on white,” and “All these uppers and downers / I put that shit in a blender / I mix that pixy stick powder.”

“Slide Thru”

“Slide Thru” is sex, period. Blackbear proclaims:

“It’s ‘bout that time you slide thru
bring nothing but your pussy and that perfume.”

He goes on to characterize her as “bad as fuck.” Ultimately it’s predictable but solid, though Jerry Good could’ve avoided the “Mashed potatoes got you creamin’ white” lyric.  “Paragraphs” continues to embody the draggy contemporary R&B predominant in the 10s. “Paragraphs” is taken from the male perspective with relationship issues. Give Blackbear credit for showcasing vulnerability, even if the profanity almost seems to intensify the masculinity a bit beyond Bear’s troubles. “Nervous” leans more towards pop-rap, appropriately so given the amplified ‘swagger’ that’s apparent here. With “Nervous” is drenched in swag, it sacrifices any sense of depth – it’s about money, plain and simple. Again, Blackbear does his thing, but that ‘thing’ is predictable.

“Where Was U?”

✓ “Where Was U?” has more oomph and ‘substance,’ with Blackbear expounds upon his demons and ambitions: “These commas up on my mind / always thinkin’ ‘bout M’s…” Ultimately, “Where Was U?” ends up being the classic “No New Friends” scenario because once you ‘come up,’ everybody wants to be your ‘friend’ or wants a piece of you. That’s why he asks: “Where was you when I was hungry? / Where was you when I was all alone.” ✓ “Help” depicts his struggles with addiction as well as an apparent unwillingness to check into rehab. In the first verse he sings: “And maybe it’s time for divine intervention / But fuck it, I’ll die how I want to.” The reference to his condition is highlighted once more when Maejor performs his verse conversationally, at one point saying, “I’m worried about you, Bear.”

“Different Hos”

“Different Hos” is what you expected – about all the hoes that Blackbear can bag. Nothing new. Penultimate cut “Verbatim” finds Blackbear concerned about ‘her’ health: “And you’ve been on too long, girl / That cocaine make you crazy.” His answer – “I’mma cut you off it that’s what I gotta do.” Closing cut “Hustler” isn’t about drugs, but rather monogamy and coming up. Give him credit for ending Help with a more respectable substance.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately Help is a solid effort. It doesn’t rewrite the R&B script and the topics, though personal, are often tried-and-true. Regardless, Blackbear has lots of potential. Perhaps going beyond the predictable and expected is the next step in his artistic development. But for now, Help works without a hitch.

✓ Gems: “Don’t Stop,” “Oh Lord,” “Where Was U?” & “Help”

Blackbear • Help • beartrap • Release: 11.27.15

Photo Credit: beartrap