Leather Blvd Explained

Leather Blvd is the second album by American hip hop duo B. Cool-Aid, consisting of rapper Pink Siifu and producer Ahwlee. The album was released on March 31, 2023, by Lex Records. The album was announced January 16 along with lead single "Cnt Go Back (Tell Me)" which features contributions from V.C.R., Jimetta Rose, Liv.e, Butcher Brown, and Maurice II.^[1]

Release

The album's lead single, "Cnt Go Back (Tell Me)", was released January 16. Pitchforks Dylan Green called it a song about keeping faith despite not knowing the future. He highlighted Pink Siifu's lyrics "Everything's gonna turn around someday/Everything gonna make sense, let's pray", and Maurice II saying "Somebody full of fear, somebody ain't/Minding they business, wanna talk about how I move," as a statement of being done with naysayers. The track opens with Siifu's crooning voice over a "crisp drum pattern and bass", then transitions halfway through where the instrumental "stutters and wears down", leading to Maurice's "mellow, flatly-delivered verse" joined by "ghostly coos" from Liv.e, Jimetta Rose, and V.C.R.^[2]

The second single, "Wassup", was released on Valentine's Day, and features contributions from Devin Morrison, Pher Turner, and MoRuf. "Wassup" also came with a music video directed by Matt Zolly and Noah Porter.^[3] The song is "hazy, stretched-out", and comes with "a whole lot of melody in Ahwlee's staggered groove, and Pink Siifu rap[ping] in a lovestruck croak."^[4] The third single, "Soundgood", was released on March 8, also with features from Liv.e, Jimetta Rose, & V.C.R. The "Soundgood" release also came with an announcement of the album's full track list, revealing more features including Ladybug Mecca of Digable Planets, Quelle Chris, Big Rube, and Fousheé.^[5]

Style

The album has been described as neo soul,^{[6] [7]} jazz rap, and G-funk.

Personnel

• Pink Siifu – vocals
• Ahwlee – producer

Featured artists

Sourced from Stereogum.

• Butcher Brown (1, 2, 9, 11, 16)
• DJ Harrison (1, 3, 9, 13)
• Melanie Charles (1)
• Liv.e (2, 5, 7, 12)
• Jimetta Rose (2, 5, 12, 15)
• V.C.R. (2, 3, 5, 9, 12)
• Maurice II (2)
• Mndsgn (4)
• Akeema-Zane (4)
• Devin Morrison (6)
• Pher (6)
• MoRuf (6, 15)

• Big Rube (9, 14)
• Ladybug Mecca (9, 10, 16)
• Kamila (11, 15)
• Blk Deco (11)
• Salimata (11)
• Nita Darling (13, 16)
• Demae (13)
• Funky Chunky (13)
• Quelle Chris (15)
• Denmark Vessey (15)
• Fousheé (16)

Notes and References

1. News: Sacher . Andrew . January 16, 2023 . Pink Siifu & Ahwlee announce new B. Cool-Aid album, share song ft. Liv.e, Butcher Brown & more . . January 17, 2023.
2. News: Green . Dylan . January 19, 2023 . B. Cool-Aid / Pink Siifu / Ahwlee: "Cnt Go Back (Tell Me)" [ft. Liv.e, Butcher Brown, Jimetta Rose, V.C.R and Maurice II] Track Review ]. . January 21, 2023.
3. News: Helfand . Raphael . February 14, 2023 . B. Cool-Aid share new song "Wassup" . . February 14, 2023.
4. News: Breihan . Tom . February 14, 2023 . B. Cool-Aid – "Wassup" (Feat. Devin Morrison, Pher, & MoRuf) . . February 14, 2023.
5. News: Rettig . James . March 8, 2023 . B. Cool-Aid – "Soundgood" (Feat. Liv.e, Jimetta Rose, & V.C.R.) . . March 9, 2023.
6. News: LeJarde . Arielle Lana . February 2, 2023 . B. Cool-Aid are gathering energy . . February 14, 2023.
7. News: Sacher . Andrew . March 31, 2023 . Notable Releases of the Week (3/31) . BrooklynVegan . April 9, 2023.
8. News: January 2024 . The Wire's Releases of the Year 2023 . . 479/480.