This writer was introduced to Ella Mai in early 2016, when “She Don’t” debuted on an episode of Drake‘s OVO Sound radio. The London-reared songstress would then release three EPs: 2016’s TIME and CHANGE and 2017’s READY. It was on READY that Mai dropped a then-overlooked song titled “Boo’d Up.”
The single is a prime example of “stop listening to music with your eyes:” “Boo’d Up” took over a year to hit a Billboard chart and 14 to top one, reaching the top of the mountain in the summer of 2018. Now, with the song being one of the year’s most popular tracks, Ella strikes while the iron is hot with her self-titled debut album.
As well as the singles “Trip” and “Whatchamacallit,” the 15-track album is bolstered by features from Chris Brown, John Legend and H.E.R. Meanwhile, production is provided by her 10 Summers capo Mustard.
Now that she has all eyes on her, Mai hopes to deliver an album that is as good or better than her previous EPs. You be the judge of it, below.
