Tierra Whack is an artist whose career has been fascinating to track. When she first emerged several years ago, I thought she was going to take the Hip Hop industry by storm. Tierra Whack has a sound and style that sets herself apart from her peers in a huge way, and this has been evident from the very start. Her debut mixtape Whack World was seen as one of the best Hip Hop projects of 2018, making multiple year-end lists and even having a song that was nominated for a Grammy. Sometimes, though, innovative artists who pop off in the way she did do not completely resonate with the masses and with more casual Hip Hop listeners, and this seemed to happen with Tierra Whack. Even if Hip Hop fans were initially attracted to Whack World, its quirkiness pushed some people away(unfairly, in my opinion), making it tough for Tierra Whack to continue the hype around her music that she got when she first hit the scene. Part of the reason the elation around Tierra Whack’s music has someone faded has been the fact that her releases since her debut have been somewhat sporadic. With Whack World not having a very commercial sound, it felt like a flash in the pan because of the lack of output from Tierra Whack following it. Now, she has released quite a few interesting singles and done some pretty well-received features over the last several years, but these one-off moments have not garnered her the attention that Whack World did. Tierra Whack did also release a series of EPs called RAP?, POP?, and R&B? in December of 2021, but like those aforementioned singles, these EPs did not win Hip Hop fans over in the manner of Whack World. Tierra Whack is finally ready to take the Hip Hop world by the horns again, as she just released her new album WORLD WIDE WHACK. If this album is as powerful as her debut, it could definitely bring the Hip Hop world back around to her sound and prove she is a consistent artist who should be reckoned with. With that being said, here is how I feel about Tierra Whack’s WORLD WIDE WHACK. Please let me know in the comments below what your favorite songs are from WORLD WIDE WHACK, and also comment on how you feel about it as a whole.
Tierra Whack gets WORLD WIDE WHACK on a calm and introspective note with the song ‘MOOD SWING.’ This brief introduction track is very stripped-back and low-key. The song consists of a warm and bubbly keyboard riff that is put over a light beat. This song has a very classic feeling to it. The instrumental reminds me a lot of the Soulful New Jack Swing music that was big in the late 1990s. Tierra Whack sings-raps on this track in a way that feels fresh, giving a newfangled element to the song. Her delivery contrasts the instrumental, giving the song a noticeable texture. On ‘MOOD SWING,’ Tierra Whack talks about how she used to have to fight for everything she had, but now her hard work is paying off and the money is starting to flow in. ‘MS BEHAVE’ brings some intensity, which is welcomed after such a soft opener. Although this instrumental is pretty simple, it still hits hard. The melody for this song, which comes in and out, is provided by foreboding synths that give an anxious feeling to them. This anxious element of ‘MS BEHAVE’ is added to by the off-kilter beat. The drum pattern on this song is raw and has a super weird timing, making the song feel exciting and also perturbed. Tierra Whack’s vocal performance on ‘MS BEHAVE’ is so scattered. She raps with multiple tones and flows on this track; her strange vocal performance on this track is bound to keep any listener engaged because of how all over the place it is. In ‘MS BEHAVE,’ Tierra Whack is rapping about how she knows how talented and important she is, and that she is a force to be reckoned with. ‘CHANEL PIT’ is the first track from the record with a “normal” Trap sound to it. The first thought that came to my head when listening to ‘CHANEL PIT is: “Yeah, this is a banger.” ‘CHANEL PIT’ is easy-going and hard-hitting at the same time. The twinkling melody, which has the tone of a xylophone, is crisp and sweet. The beat, however, is buzzing and tough. I love how drums pound on ‘CHANEL PIT;’ the way the drums mesh with this pleasant instrumental makes the song feel all the more brash somehow. Tierra Whack’s tone and flow on ‘CHANEL PIT’ are just as addicting as the instrumental. The way she raps on this one makes it all the more catchy. On ‘CHANEL PIT,’ Tierra Whack is rapping about believing in herself and not letting the haters get her down. ‘NUMB’ is a song I do not know how to feel about. I think the song has a cool concept, but it does not work for me for some reason. The way the instrumental is mixed is just a little too saturated; normally I enjoy extremely saturated music, but this one does not do it for me. I appreciate how weird the tone and mix of this track is, but it is almost too unnerving(which is extra weird because the tone of the melody is actually gratifying). I am not the biggest fan of Tierra Whack’s vocals on this one as well. The way her voice is mixed is very muddled, and it adds to the awkwardness of the song in a way I just can not get with. I appreciate the unusual nature of ‘NUMB,’ but its mix is a bit too convoluted. On ‘NUMB,’ Tierra Whack is singing about becoming numb and devoid of feeling due to all of the mental health struggles she faced growing up.
Tierra Whack returns to R&B music on ‘BURNING BRAINS,’ albeit a slightly different kind than what we see on the opening track of the album. Instead of feeling inspired by New Jack Swing, this one feels inspired by a different kind of retro R&B. I can hear elements of the Neo-Soul music made popular by artists like Erykah Badu and Jill Scott back in the day. The instrumental for this one is cozy and delightful. This instrumental is provided by a charming piano riff that is put on top of a subdued and passive beat. As nice as the instrumental is, the vocals on ‘BURNING BRAINS; are what makes it so appealing. I really enjoy how the vocals throughout this track constantly change pitches, as this gives ‘BURNING BRAINS’ so much texture and life. On ‘BURNING BRAINS,’ Tierra Whack sings about a budding relationship that is driving her crazy because of how passionate it is. ‘ACCESSIBLE’ continues the balmy and velvety R&B feeling of the last track, albeit with a much more current mix and overall sound. If ‘BURNING BRAINS’ feels inspired by older Neo-Soul music, this one feels inspired by the modern version of that sound. When I hear ‘ACCESSIBLE,’ I think of artists like Summer Walker or SZA. In fact, I could totally see one of those two on this instrumental, due to the atmospheric sound of the melody and the fuzzy Trap beat that this song has. Although one might expect to hear someone like SZA on a track like this, I have to say Tierra Whack kills it on this one. Her tone is clear and full, and her flow rides this beat perfectly and makes the song such an earworm. On ‘ACCESSIBLE,’ Tierra Whack is singing about a partner who is too flirty with others and talking to too many women on the side, making her lose her attraction for them. ‘IMAGINARY FRIENDS’ is the third song in a row with a very chill and sunny feeling to it. This is another one that is influenced by Neo-Soul music from the 1990s. The thing that sets the instrumental for ‘IMAGINARY FRIENDS’ apart, though, is how relaxing of a sound it has. The previous two tracks do have a very bright sound to them, but this one has a laid-back element to it that makes it extra enjoyable for me. When I hear ‘IMAGINARY FRIENDS,’ I want to cruise by a beach on a summer day with the top down and the wind flowing through my hair. Tierra Whack’s delivery on ‘IMAGINARY FRIENDS’ is a bit harsher and more poignant than it was on the two songs that precede it. This gives the song a fun texture, and it really makes her vocals pop. On ‘IMAGINARY FRIENDS,’ Tierra Whack is rapping about a literal imaginary friend she has in her head who keeps her company when she feels lonely in this big world. Tierra Whack brings back the intensity of the song ‘X.’ This is easily the coldest and harshest song on the record to this point. The song is driven by a mean melody provided by what sounds like very unsettling horns and trumpets complemented by some synths that come in and out. The beat for ‘X’ has a marching band quality to it, making the song feel so apprehensive and looming. Tierra Whack sort of shouts during her rap performance at points on this track, giving the song such a raucous feeling. ‘X’ would be a great song to put on a workout playlist, because it has a sound to it that fills me with energy. On ‘X,’ Tierra Whack is rapping about how her partner is not living up to her standards, and that she is looking for someone else who can truly give her what she needs.
‘MOOVIES’ is a song that switches up the direction of this album. This is the first track that has nothing about the instrumental with any sort of Hip Hop element. Instead, this instrumental feels directly inspired by the Disco music from the 1970s. I could see someone like Donna Summer singing on this track back in the day. A current artist I could see going with this instrumental is Dua Lipa. The keyboard-driven melody is so funky and starry, and the groovy beat will make anyone want to dance. Tierra Whack thrives on this track. It is a highlight for me, as she demonstrates her vocal range while also giving us cool rap verses. On ‘MOOVIES,’ Tierra Whack talks about wanting her partner to show her love and do a bit more for her. ‘DIFFICULT’ is another song with a very funky feeling to it. This one feels a lot more hip than the track that precedes it, but there are still elements of Disco music to this track. The Disco element particularly comes through the groovy bassline that drives the melody; this bassline is complemented by saturated synths that make the sign so different. The beat for ‘DIFFICULT’ is super low-key, but its off-kilter nature makes it pop. ‘DIFFICULT’ probably contains Tierra Whack’s most dynamic vocal performance of the project so far. She sings with a variety of tones on this track. The fluctuation in her vocals helps the song hit harder, even if its sound is so soft. On ‘DIFFICULT,’ Tierra Whack is singing about fighting through mental health struggles and feeling like you are not enough. As someone who has had mental health struggles myself, this is a song I can relate to a ton. There were a couple of moments before this point on WORLD WIDE WHACK that made me think of Teezo Touchdown, and ‘SHOWER SONG’ has that feeling times 100. This song has an instrumental that is reminiscent of 1980s Funky Jazz-Rock Fusion music. It has the feeling of music by artists like Chicago, Toto, and Devo. The groovy bassline that drives this song is so weird and uncommon. It is almost inviting and perplexing at the same time. The wacky energy of this track is amplified by Tierra Whack’s vocals, which are just as peculiar as the instrumental. Tierra Whack’s vocals have the same kind of outside-the-box energy as the instrumental. ‘SHOWER SONG’ may not be the most welcoming song on the record, but it does stick out and is definitely unforgettable. On ‘SHOWER SONG,’ Tierra Whack is literally singing about singing in the shower and getting ready for the day while she washes her worries away. ‘INVITATION’ is a song with a sound that truly fits into the landscape of Hip Hop that is popular today. I know I said that about ‘CHANEL PIT,’ but this one fits even more into what is big in Trap music right now. It has a bright and bubbly Pop-Trap sound that is driven by saturated synths with such a light and fun tone to them. This melody is put on top of a Drill beat that is similar to what artists like Pop Smoke and 42 Dugg are known for. Although ‘INVITATION’ sounds more similar to today’s Hip Hop than pretty much anything else on the record, I would also say it may be the most boring. There is something about this one that just does not grab me. Frankly, I would rather just hear Doja Cat on an instrumental like this, as her vocal style fits this kind of music better than Tierra Whack’s does. On ‘INVITATION,’ Tierra Whack is singing about how much of an individual she is in her artistry, which is true but kind of ironic to be talked about in a song like this.
‘SNAKE EYES’ is easily the most melancholy and harsh song of the record so far. After how agreeable most of the rest of the record has been in terms of its sound, this kind of more brash and mean sound is welcomed, as it provides a nice buffer. ‘SNAKE EYES’ is driven by a piano riff with a very gloomy and dark tone to it. This melody sounds like something that would play right before a chase scene in a scary movie. This melody is put on top of a beat that is equally as intense as the melody. This beat helps the song feel so huge and daunting. Tierra Whack’s rap performance on ‘SNAKE EYES’ is pushy and bold, matching the energy of the instrumental perfectly. On ‘SNAKE EYES,’ Tierra Whack is rapping about her rags-to-riches story and about how her peers are jealous of her budding success. We go from one of the nastiest songs on the record to one of the most charming. ‘TWO NIGHT’ is a soft and enchanting track with a sound that is nostalgic and ultramodern at the same time. The melody, which is provided by a lovely guitar riff complemented by a keyboard and some synths, has a classic sound that makes me think of 1950s Pop music. The beat, however, has an unusual pattern that sort of feels like Drill music but is riddled with sound effects that almost make it feel futuristic. This instrumental is riveting, as I can not compare it to anything I have heard before. Tierra Whack’s vocal performance on ‘TWO NIGHT’ is awesome. The range she sings with makes the song so inviting, and the rap verses give the song a layer of texture it benefits from. On ‘TWO NIGHT,’ Tierra Whack is talking about existential dread and thinking you are going to die due to bad mental health. Tierra Whack closes out WORLD WIDE WHACK with ‘27 CLUB.’ This is a laid-back Jazzy Cut with a sound that is very old school. It has the kind of sound that immediately makes me think of classic R&B music. I could see someone like Al Green or Marvin Gaye singing on an instrumental like this back in the day. The piano and bass guitar-driven melody are so beautiful and endearing, and the beat is so relaxing. Tierra Whack may have saved her best vocal performance for last. Her range on this song is exquisite, and the emotion that she sings with is so palpable. On ‘27 CLUB,’ Tierra Whack is singing about her mental health struggles and having a hard time navigating through life. It is obvious that Tierra Whack wanted to end WORLD WIDE WHACK on an introspective note, and she accomplishes that with ‘27 CLUB.’
To be honest, going into WORLD WIDE WHACK, I did not know what to expect. I did enjoy Tierra Whack’s debut album thoroughly, but the lack of consistency of her releases made me wonder what this album would be like. Now, WORLD WIDE WHACK, certainly is not perfect, but there still is a lot to enjoy on this record. Tierra Whack’s diversity as an artist shines through on this project. It is easy to see that there are no limitations to the kind of music she can make and that she has so many ideas for her music that can make it stand out. I do wish there was a bit more consistency in the sound of this record, as it is truly all over the place. Listening to WORLD WIDE WHACK is certainly a journey, as it is so eclectic and unordinary. Tierra Whack is an insanely talented artist with a ton of potential, and this is apparent on WORLD WIDE WHACK. There is something for so many kinds of music fans on this record, and that itself is commendable.