Muva Dame just released her first project, Denasia, today and this one serves as the intro to the project. The New York singer-songwriter understands the assignment of making a hit, referencing Lloyd’s “Southside” a bit with her phrasing on the hook and Ronald Isley’s “Contagious” on the bridge (which makes me a bit sad because I’d forgotten He Who Shall Not Be Named wrote that song until I Googled it while prepping for this post).

Sonically, she doesn’t sound like either Lloyd or Isley–and damn sure pushes any Sylvester ickiness out the way with her voice and softness and realness. Instead, Dame gives us a mix between Summer Walker and Normani that’s both pleasing to the ears and pleasing to the soul. In other words, to me, Dame can sing with the best of the new era singers off the strength of this one. It’s not very often a track will make me want to peep a whole body of work as much as this one did. I’ll leave it here for you all to vibe with, but I personally enjoyed the collection. It’s a bit different than what you’d expect from a 20-something R&B singer in 2022. Check it out below and support dope music in all its forms.