Rating: NNN
On her sophomore album, Empire ISIS includes all the criteria for a successful crossover artist: dancehall lyrics, synthesized horns à la Baltimore club anthems, saccharine R&B hooks and, yes, Auto-Tune. Unfortunately, the final product comes across as contrived.
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The Montreal/Brooklyn “gangstress” recorded some of the album at legendary Tuff Gong studio in Jamaica, yet her reggae-inspired lyrics and delivery feel like satire. Won’t Surrender sounds like Gwen Stefani attempting to rap in patois. Conversely, a few dancehall fusion cuts really hit the bull’s eye, particularly the bass-heavy disco jam False Friend.
Empire ISIS needs to fine-tune her songwriting skills and balance her genre-blending, but there’s a great deal of potential here.
Top track: False Friend
Catch Empire ISIS at the Drake Underground Friday (June 19) as part of NXNE.
