At his new album, Beach House 3 release party in NYC, Ty Dolla $ign stated, “ If anyone still gives a shit about R&B, I wanted to show off on this shit. I wanted to show that you could be on the radio and not have to hold back."
He goes on to say in an interview with Rolling Stones, “If anyone still gives a shit about R&B, I wanted to show off on this shit," he declared. "I wanted to show that you could be on the radio and not have to hold back."
I get Ty’s sentiment as Hip-Hop has definitely edged R&B singers out of mainstream. Lower-register pipes once thrived on the airwaves, but rap caused a paradigm shift. Rappers now sing and singers now rap. Ty believes can he revive R&B but he gives me more trap soul than a singa. It’s like how Tyrese believes he can rap with his Black-Ty alter ego. Or how Drake believes he can sing. Remember when Musiq Soulchild wanted to be a rapper? It’s a battle between being a real vocalist or being a hit-maker. At this point in the industry, there’s no real in between.
You can sing but you won’t get mainstream success. Or you can get mainstream success but then you’re not a Brain McKnight crooner.
Ty Dolla $ign is talented for sure, he can play like seven instruments, he can sing, and produce but as a R&B singer, he falls short. I don’t get range. I don’t get emotions. I don’t hear love songs. I hear rhythm but not so much of the blues as he claims.
Beach House 3 is a dope album. With features from Future, 24hrs, Jeremih, Swae Lee, and Tory Lanez, Beach House 3 is droptops in the rain music. It’s a late night album that is sexy but not sweet. It’s a soundtrack for while you're driving to your situationship’s crib.
It’s perfect for thinking about your boo thang who you’re sitting at the intersection of “hooking up” and “in a relationship.” And if it’s Ty Dolla $ign is in the intersection of rapper and R&B singer.
I dig the album though. It’s a solid album with amazing production. I’ve been playing it since it’s last Friday release.
Stand out tracks:
“Droptop in The Rain” (feat. Tory Lanez)- The 2017 version of R.Kelly’s “You Remind Me.”
“Don’t Judge Me” (feat. Future and Swae Lee)- Ty shows some range in this track.
“Dawsin’ Breek” (feat. Jeremih)- A fun take on Dawson's Creek. James Van Der Beek is icy.
“Don’t Sleep On Me” (feat. Future and 24hrs)- Cause sometimes you gotta let folks know not to sleep on you.
“Stare” (feat. Pharrell Williams and Wiz Khalifa)- Classic Pharrell production with background vocals by A$AP Rocky.