7TH CRUSH (Deluxe)

The songs on Beekay’s sophomore EP are remorseful, heart-rending and filled with longing—and they never rise above midtempo. “Heartbreaks are the best love songs, when you lose the taste of love,” attests Beekay on the Praiz-assisted “Hbstbls”. On “For my baby”, DanDizzy’s pidgin rap verse and Angelika’s patois-infused singing provide support as Beekay vows to match the love of a partner. On “Harder”, Beekay’s R&B chops are a snug fit for highlife-retrofitting duo The Cavemen., as he tells the story of a transactional relationship, asking to be loved harder while knowing that it comes at a cost. The deluxe version of 7TH CRUSH adds two new tracks. Meditative piano and bells punctuate “For You” as Beekay convinces a love interest of his feelings: “I don jogodo/You give me the flow.” (“Jogodo” is Nigerian slang used to describe an emotional or substance-induced high.) On “Bebe Sign”, the upbeat verses in praise of a lover are contrasted with the falsetto refrain of “it’s all over,” marking the end of a relationship.