Keyshia Cole returns ferociously.  The R&B singer-songwriter doesn’t play around on the aggressive “You,” assisted by Remy Ma and French Montana.

Last time out, things didn’t go so well for Keyshia Cole.  Her sixth studio album, Point of No Return, was by far her weakest.  In addition to its critical issues, commercially it flopped.  While substandard quality hurt Point of No Return, R&B sales are down across the board.  Still, Cole needs a lift going into her seventh studio album, I Was Broken.  For the most part, the fiery “You” gives her that lift.

Apparent from the start, Keyshia Cole isn’t playing around on “You.”  Clearly, she’s pissed off and she’s unafraid to throw it out there.  The record opens with the ferocious hook, which instantly sets the tone.

“You just played me for the last time / I’m done f*cking with you / Keep coming with the same lines / Everything but the truth / You picked the wrong one, yea, yea / You picked the wrong one baby / You just played me for the last time / I’m done f*cking with you.”

Like much of pop music these days, the use of the f-bomb is unsurprising.  Cole has always been a cutting-edge R&B artist.  With Point of No Return, her explicitness kicked up a smidge.  It can be argued whether she needs the profanity to further amplify her anger, but undoubtedly, Cole gets her point across.

“So know I’m not the one for the bullshit,” she bites on the first verse.  She goes on to reference the Chris Brown hit, “Loyal.”

“Whole squad said you was a ho though / Let Breezy know these n*ggas ain’t loyal.”

If the rawness of Cole weren’t enough, she invites friends.  Remy Ma employs a similar approach to Cole.

“I can be a fowl b*tch – f*ck your whole life up / I might spend the night with your bro out of spite cause you a f*ck-n*gga.”

French Montana caps off the verses, once more lifting a reference to “Loyal” – how original. Give him credit. He delivers bullets with killer references to Steve Harvey (“But I picked the wrong one like Steve Harvey”) and Melania Trump (“Coming with the same lines like Trump’s wife”).   

Final Thoughts 

All in all, Keyshia Cole has a good thing going with “You.” It lacks the classicism of the crème de la crème – namely her Just Like You album – but the aggressive sentiment is a pro.  Will “You” reignite her career? Meh.  Fans should be pleased, though.

Keyshia Cole • You • Epic • Release: 1.27.17

Picture Credit: Epic