There are many synonyms of the word ‘impeccable’ and we are coming to the realization that Ayra Starr’s album 19 & Dangerous is a ready alternative for that word.
It is a body of work that invites you to feel different things from the perspective of an emotionally intelligent teenager. She has experiences that she wants to share with the world. Experiences of heartbreak, angst, resilience and so much more.
The album opens with “Cast” on which she declares her fearlessness.
“If I cast, then I cast
Anything wey wan sup go sup o
I come this life all alone, yeah
Anything they wan talk, they talk”
She shows her teenage feistiness and refuses to bow to social pressure
Ayra declares herself a “Fashion Killer” on the next track and carries that confidence into the confrontational “Snitch”. All that confidence breaks down on the Don Jazzy-produced “Toxic” where she cries her eyes out for unrequited love.
Her world breaks down as this toxic relationship comes melting it apart.
At 19 it is normal to contemplate the meaning of life, to wonder what it all means. The sadness, the bottomless pit of life that keeps sinking and sinking with no cushion for the fall.
“In Between” is Ayra searching for that elusive meaning to it all. “Beggie Beggie” is an instant favorite on the project. With the help of CKay, she questions all she has given for her love interest and how much more she has to give.
On “Karma” she praises nature’s gavel of justice for serving breakfast to a lover that jilted her. Then comes the only single off the album, “Bloody Samaritan”. The song further buttresses the direction of 19 & Dangerous.
There will always be naysayers and Bloody Samaritans who always do their best to bring you down and all you have to do is ignore them and prove that you’re untouchable and as long as you stick to your path, they don’t matter.
“You no fit kill my vibe” she croons on the London-produced song to everyone willing to listen and it is a message we totally endorse. She rounds out the album to perfection with “Bridgetn”.
It is the perfect debut album, a rounded piece that bounces with the fluctuation of her teenage emotions.
