Coming a long way of making music like never before in a distinctive way to attaining and unlocking a global level is superb, that is precisely what amaarae has done in her ongoing musical career, adding to her impressive discography comes her third body of work BLACK STAR, a bold body of work that sits firmly amongst her previous projects (THE ANGEL YOU DON’T KNOW and Fountain Baby and roses are red, tears are blue — A Fountain Baby Extended Play).
Amaarae’s new baby BLACK STAR didn’t just include Amaarae’s voice but also brought along fellow black stars across the globe, including Charlie Wilson, PinkPantheress, Naomi Campbell, and more.
BLACK STAR opens with a distorted vocal on Stuck Up with a techno sparking sound like we’re stepping into a night club, a track that gives us a glimpse of what we’re about to hear as she paints a picture of where the track is made to take us to, a club where the energy is high. Starkilla comes in following on the layer Stuck Up introduced as she Bree Runaway and Starkillers flows to amaarea’s chorus of her deserving somebody in the club where they’re already higher than the ceiling, with sex attacks surrounding them.
Naomi Campbell’s appearance on MS60 already hinted at the song’s content. Amaarae sings about both her companions, giving a 360-degree turnaround. The music has flashing camera sound and mentions of the Yves Saint Laurent fashion brand. In the outro, Naomi Campbell dresses herself as a black star. This is a fashion-themed track for all black star fashion icons ruling the world.
Kiss Me Thru The Phone Pt2, paired with Pinkpanthress, is a smooth, soft, soul-touching track that will have you imagining you and your lover kissing in a Nickelodeon high school series. The camera gives a 360-degree turn, and the background and beat change at 3:05, giving a dance floor vibe. That’s the feeling one gets when listening to this track.
In continuation to the calm dance pop instrumental come B2B, a track that has Amaarae being expressive with her lover, describing what she want and how long she has been into her lover, confessions confessions, with a familiar beat subtle switch in 2:30 where I heared a familiar guitar strings from Don Toliver’s Best You Had, of course without the trap kicks but Amaarae sensual yearnings and seductive whispers.
Ending the album’s first half with a declaration, She Is My Drug is a declaration that captures the first five songs ‘ sub-theme. She sings about all that her lover makes her feel, and the rush is just like the drugs, while also asking, “Do you believe in love off the drugs?”
As the album progresses, we get into a more Jersey dancing phase with Girlie-Pop! Which very much still paints the party dancing scene with her companion, it gets deeper when of the lead single S.M.O acronym of Slut Me Out, and as it says, Amaarae is flowing on this fast-paced song that sounds like a “ready to ride” tune, asking her girlfriend to show her how she loves. S.M.O. is just that energetic song for all that love ecstasy.
Fineshyt follows up on that jersey tempo sounds that was made for you to jump to, whine to, and feel sexy to, while Amaarae describes how she loves and doesn’t love her fine babe, a mix of feelings just like the drink she’s mixing in the club.
Dove Cameron is a track in which we hear Ama (like the girl she let address her that way) brag in a soft way about her wealth. Dream Scenario is all about her relationship filled with luxury, sex, and a show of power, but also sensitive, deep feelings. It combines bragging about a glamorous life and confessing softer, messier desires.
On 100DRUM with Zacari, we hear Amaarae touch on themes of Wealth and fame, which lead to paranoia and pain. The singer brags about money and power but feels scared, betrayed, and surrounded by fake people. This song is perfectly paired with Zacari’s voice. The 13th track and The last one FREE THE YOUTH is an outro for the black star album where you hear Amaarae soft flexing barge, touching on her night lifestyle and how far she has come with a reference to So Far Gone, one of Drake’s essential project alongside the dog title itself as a nod to the successful Ghanaian streetwear brand Free The Youth.
Amaarae’s BLACK STAR isn’t just an album; it’s a meticulously crafted universe, a pulsating declaration of arrival on the global stage. This third central body of work is a triumphant culmination of the distinct sonic pathways she forged on THE ANGEL YOU DON’T KNOW and the critically adored Fountain Baby. She transcends past achievements here, refining her signature blend of hyperpop, Afrobeats, R&B, and club sensibilities into a bolder, more expansive, and utterly intoxicating experience.
The album’s genius lies in its duality: a club manifesto and a nuanced exploration of the complexities beneath the glittering surface of success, desire, and identity. From the electrifying, techno-sparked descent into the nightlife on “Stuck Up” to the vulnerable confessions woven into tracks like Dream Scenario and the paranoid reflections of “100DRUM,” Amaarae masterfully navigates a spectrum of emotions. She paints vivid pictures – of sweat-drenched dancefloors (“Girlie-Pop!“, “Fineshyt“), high-fashion power plays (“ms60” ft. Naomi Campbell), unapologetic sensuality (“S.M.O“, “B2B“), and the intoxicating, often dangerous, rush of love and lust (“She Is My Drug,” “Kiss Me Thru The Phone Pt2“).
BLACK STAR truly earns its name by assembling a galaxy of fellow luminaries. The features aren’t mere cameos but integral collaborators who amplify the album’s global and thematic ambitions. Charlie Wilson’s soulful gravitas, PinkPantheress’s ethereal charm, Naomi Campbell’s iconic presence, Bree Runway’s fierce energy, Starkillers’ swagger, and Zacari’s smooth vulnerability all contribute distinct colors to Amaarae’s vibrant sonic canvas. This curated assembly underscores the album’s celebration of Black excellence and global connection.
Production-wise, the album is a marvel. Amaarae and her producers from Kyu Steed, to WondaGurl, BNYX, and more crafted a futuristic soundscape deeply rooted in contemporary club culture (especially Jersey Club) and African rhythms. The seamless transitions, surprising beat switches (like the euphoric shift in “Kiss Me Thru The Phone Pt2” or the subtle guitar nod in “B2B”), and distorted textures create a constantly engaging, immersive journey. It’s meticulously detailed, designed for intimate headphones and thunderous sound systems.
BLACK STAR solidifies Amaarae not just as a unique voice, but as a visionary force shaping the future of pop. It’s an album that demands movement while provoking thought, celebrating Black joy and sensuality while candidly addressing the anxieties and costs of fame and desire. It’s audacious, cohesive, and relentlessly inventive – a definitive statement from an artist operating at the peak of her powers. The outro, “FREE THE YOUTH,” serves as a perfect coda – a soft flex acknowledging her roots and journey, leaving no doubt that Amaarae is indeed a blazing BLACK STAR, here to illuminate the global soundscape for a long time to come.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Related: Tems Launches The Leading Vibe Initiative for Women in Music Across Africa
