R&B is in an exciting place right now; whether you prefer the traditionalism of a Jazmine Sullivan or a Mariah Carey or the futurism of a Dawn Richard or a Kelela, there’s room for everyone to explore their desired sound. Another Mariah — Mariah the Scientist, to be exact — is forging a path of her own with a beautiful blend of the past, present, and future of the genre, just as her moniker suggests. RY RY WORLD, her second album and follow-up to 2019’s Master, is a continuation of the singer’s unflinchingly honest lyrics and atmospheric soundscapes that aims to cement her place in the R&B game.
Prior to RY RY WORLD, Mariah was known for her downtempo tracks that cast her voice closer to a soul tradition; here, though, she flexes her vocals in other ways, such as the more conversational rap-singing on “Aura” and the Young Thug-featuring “Walked In,” while songs like “Maybe” bump up the BPM to a danceable groove. The small but noteworthy expanse in sound is but another step on the ladder of world domination.
Mariah has never shied away from writing about the more undesirable aspects of love and relationships, and just like Master, it’s the singer’s lyrics that shine through. While tracks like “RIP” and “All for Me” attack their situations directly, others deal in more fantastical circles; single “2 You” and closer “Revenge” both detail metaphorically burying a love, the former in mourning and the latter in — you guessed it — revenge, and “Brain” explores the trauma sustained by the eponymous organ from a toxic relationship. If Master demonstrated Mariah the Scientist is the master of her own domain, RY RY WORLD proves she could rule the whole world, as well.
Rating: 9/10
Standout tracks: “Aura,” “2 You,” “Brain,” “Always n Forever”