Pre-Shawty, I often thought that I had to title everything up as soon as I started talking to a person. For real, I honestly had no freaking clue how to actually “date,” titled or otherwise. I got so hung up on being agreeable and “perfect” with my partners, I didn’t do what I wanted with them. Heck, with my sons’ mom, it got to the point where I didn’t even feel fully comfortable being myself (because I thought “myself” wasn’t someone she wouldn’t like). That’s no disrespect to my sons’ mom; she’s great and I’m Team Quel forever. However, I had to learn/relearn the rules of dating since I’d mostly been with her since I was 19. I say that to say that, while the dating pool sometimes has pee in it, there are decent people out here who just want to “see where things go” and not rush into things.

But this is not about me.

ABSYTE’s “BAWDY” is an example of how this may play out for the women-identifying folks out there. I heard a minute of this one then said “I’ve got to talk about this one.” I love the wordplay and the storytelling. While there aren’t fifty million punchlines, there’re so great comparisons drawn. Plus, you get to see many steps to a situation play out. From the conversation with her friends to the easing into sensuality, sexuality and other things, we get an entire night of fun and intrigued laid out for us. Featuring Malik Hammond, Rojo Lavoe, and Gary Fritz, “BAWDY” is “Single Ladies,” if Beyoncé was more of a jazz rap-loving storyteller of an emcee versus a global superstar. An odd comparison, given that “Single Ladies” is more of an anthem and “BAWDY” is more of a storytelling track (no shade to the Beyhive, by the way). However, that’s the most-apt comparison I can come up with here in terms of energy.

Check out “BAWDY” below and support dope music in all its forms.