R&B/hip-hop duo THEY. enlists R&B singer Jessie Reyez for their brief new single, “Broken.” It’s definitely a ‘vibe,’ but certainly not transcendent. 

THEY. (Dante Jones and Drew Love) are back with a new single, “Broken.” The R&B/hip-hop duo doesn’t handle the record all alone, enlisting rising R&B singer Jessie Reyez for the assist.  “Broken” ends up being a brief record, clocking in at merely 2:15. The production is respectable, characterized by the use of guitar, and ultimately idiomatic of the urban contemporary sound. Reyez performs the first verse and the chorus. Notably, she delivers a smoother tone than usual, exhibiting control.  She does exhibit a bit more edge on the chorus, but she’s still remains much more ‘poised’ than usual.

“It’s always the same

It’s like I’m lookin’ for someone to save me

Someone to blame

So, I can cry and ask you, ‘Why’d you break me?’

I lie and say I didn’t come broken

I lie and say you did it

I lie and say I didn’t come broken (broken).”

Arguably, the chorus isn’t particularly catchy, at least following the first iteration. Drew Love performs the second verse, delivering solid, soulful vocals as always. Reyez and Love perform together on the second chorus, which ends up being more impactful than the first.

Final Thoughts

“Broken” is definitely a vibe, but it’s a record that could use a bit more substance, distinction, and oomph. There’s really not that much to it. Good, but it doesn’t ‘wow’ per se.

THEY. » Broken (Ft. Jessie Reyez) [Single] » Mind of a Genius / Warner Bros. » Release: 11.1.18

Photo Credits: Mind of a Genius / Warner Bros.