H.E.R., 21 | Track Review

Grammy-winning urban contemporary standout H.E.R. continues to get better and better and better, exhibited by her stellar, reflective single, “21.”

No BS.  H.E.R. (Gabriella Wilson) is quite the special artist and musician, period. Incredibly gifted and talented to the nth degree, at the age of 21 she managed to win two Grammys without releasing an official studio album.  In 2019, she’s continued to make noise including the awesome single “Racks” with YBN Cordae and the single at hand, “21.”  

 Songs in which the age serves as the song title and the central theme are pretty common.  “21” definitely wouldn’t set itself aside from the crowd in name only, but, H.E.R. certainly brings the heat where the content is concerned.  Starting with the production, “21” has a soulful, throwback vibe with its robust bass line, smooth guitars, and dusty drum groove. The first musician that comes to mind listening to her rap (the verses) and sing (chorus) is Lauryn Hill.  “21” sounds like it could’ve appeared on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill with its blend of hip-hop and neo-soul cues.

“After-show afterparty, orange juice and Bacardi / I’m old enough, I made enough to move to Abu Dhabi / And who could stop me?” Focusing on the lyrics, H.E.R. reflects on her career, which started at an incredibly young age, and reaching ‘adulthood’ – 21.  She’s 22 as of publication mind you, but the big takeaway is that she’s reached that big milestone.  Some of the best lyrics, referencing hard work paying off, appear at the end of the second verse:

“I don’t need no sleep, I’ve been at it over a week
Can’t work as hard as me but wanna eat
Can’t cheat the grind.”

Lyrics from the bridge actually complement those lyrics: “That hype shit won’t get you nowhere…” Still, the crown jewel of “21” is the gorgeous, incredibly honest chorus:

“No everybody not made for this life
I wouldn’t trade it for the world
I’m 21 now, oh I’m 21
Everybody wanna be my guy
And my girl, too, I
I wouldn’t trade it for the world
I’m 21 now, oh, I’m 21.”

Final Thoughts 

H.E.R. continues to get better and better and better.  “21” is a perfect example.  She’s real, reflective, and manages to deliver a bop in the process.  Furthermore, she keeps old-school R&B and hip-hop alive, while sounding fresh in 2019.  Maybe radio doesn’t eat up “21,” but among R&B enthusiasts, they have a surefire torchbearer for the genre for sure.

H.E.R. • 21 [Single] • RCA • Release: 7.26.19

Photo Credit: RCA