Release Date: March 13th, 2020

Imagine being a freshman in college. You're about to go into your 2nd semester. At this point, you have already gone through the process of friendships, relationships, independence, weed, parties, and so much more. Everything is running normally and par for the experience, but all of a sudden, a news line pops up. A disease is on the horizon. They call it Corona

A beer?

No. Aptly named COVID-19, it's been spreading and catching people off guard. Forcing everything to be shut down.

Now, the whole world has stopped. Life is literally confined by walls and screens. This was the reality I had at the time. I never felt so isolated in my life. It was almost as if my problems and issues were in front of me. That whole year was a tough journey, Moreso, not only society, but I felt like I was breaking down. Deconstructed.

From Late 2019 - Spring 2020, I started getting familiar with Youtube Music. A service that actually helped me tap in with the latest music. Amidst these developments, I was introduced to one particular South London artist: Ojerime. I listened to a few of her songs from her project, 4U(2018). However, I wasn't truly invested...yet.

Around the Spring - Summer seasonal period, I peeped the algorithm showing me that a new Ojerime dropped. The cover was minimalistic, very curious to me.
It was Ojerime, expressionless in a teal-colored outfit. Standing in front of a midnight blue background.

It appears she is covering or concealing her outfit from being exposed. A reflection of the album title and most definitely, the musical direction.

As a then 20-year-old, who was into Icytwat, I was craving music with an ambient, off-kilter energy but with a classic 90s - Early 2000s R&B vocality. I've heard around certain circles that Ojerime is a weak singer, but I refute.

Her voice is as sly and sweet as black raspberries. I often say that she is SWV in 1 Her vocals recall of the group's heyday specifically their lead, Coko. This album might be the biggest evidence of their influence on the British artist.

(Continued)

B4 I Breakdown is filled with 10 tracks of the "past meets current" philosophy. One that creates something familiar yet new. It’s best to focus on the top songs on the project.

However, I have to start off with the intro "Jaffna", an intoxicating and mesmerizing track that has looped vocal riffs. All she wants is to find a "red light", but all she sees is green lights. She wants to slow down but the pressure is keeping her trapped. That intro sets the stage for the sound of the project.

Tangerine Dreams

Throughout the album, you'll notice that there are moments of acapella. In this case, it's effective and this song is no exception. It starts off acepella and then it is backed by a somewhat distorted 808 thumping in the background. Her vocals on this are airy and echoey but not too overbearing. It feels you're in a dreamscape having a late night walk. There is a Lo-Fi melody in as well, that I feel encapsulates the track as well.

Turn U Off, Part 2

A straight up acapella and a sequel to her 2015 track. She tells her lover that she can't stay too long and although she a feen for the "crack back" Instead of saying can I turn you off, she says "can I turn you on". The harmonies are affirming and attentive, once again having that ghostly quality that's been paramount to this album

Empty

The most mellow song on the project. Plus, the only one with a music video. That guitar is probably the crown jewel for it has it's own language displayed: bittersweetness. And each time she sings: "Midnight/call you up" and "Hold on". Those sections just sound like lullabies that would put you to sleep as a kid. Dusk time at the beach is what this song represents.

Give It Up To Me

The most famous song on this album. Has been sampled and remixed ad infinitum (Camilla Cabello - He Knows). This is Smooth Jazz at it's essence. The alto-sax playing checks off the Late Night vibes. Her chorus: "Give it up to me, you know I've been waitin' too long" It should be repetitive but thanks to her notes slightly changing, it ends up being a vocal loop ear candy. As mentioned in the tracks, it's a weed-inducing joint. So, the throught of you thinking its repetitive goes out the window for how addicting her vocals are.

SWV(This Ain't Easy)

I always go back to this one. I theorize that this track samples SWV's "Fine Time"(1996). It has a similar pattern and melody but that's all I could pinpoint. Anyways, it's an upbeat slow burner. It starts off with a heartbeat esque kick that occurs as she's declaring her affection for her lover. And then it stops as she is unsure if what she feels is truly love or lust. Her vocal delivery recalls Coko and the adlibs/melodies all feel like Taj and LeeLee. It's her song about inordinary love but it feels like an ode to SWV. Her humming is a sign that she's about to spit that real and the organ sounds as if she's a pastor ready to preach the word.

Selfish(Outro)

That piano along with the vinyl static and digitized sound effects evokes a rainy day realization. I wish this were longer. Her cadence that she starts off with sounds like she's panicking at the thought that this dude is not what she dreamed of. "Did you ever think of me?", she sings solemnly. Realizing he was selfish all along, she extends the "me" part without the background vocals or her mind telling her to feel. She now knows that this relationship wasn't what she hoped for.

Ending Note
Overall, some people believed that the project was unfinished and unpolished but I disagree. I think this is an excellent album that is supposed to be solemn and dreamy. This is her musically communicating how she was trying to process the deterioration of a one-sided relationship. The songs and the emphasis of acapella do this vision justice.

Even 5 years later, I find it amazing to see that many people go back to certain songs on this project. I find that British R&B artists these days are a lot more soulful compared to their American counterparts. Artists such as Natanya, Essosa, RUBii, Mahalia, Jvck James, FLO, and more are appearing to expand that Late 90s - Early 2000s R&B sound. Some were possibly inspired by the direction and template that B4 I Breakdown set.

Regardless, this album stands as not only a defining project for the British R&B scene, but for the R&B genre this decade. There's grit and sorrow amassed in this project. Ojerime's subsequent albums show that more and more people are catching up. A classic and I don't say that hyperbolically

amazing thread op

Thank you

re: empty: the pre-chorus + hook + post-chorus (if i can call it that) is one of the most resounding melody-transmuted rollercoasters of cathartic melancholy i've heard in my life and I live for it every time. also, what truly happened to sonder?

@aiko @tilia @faith @prince @NYHRT @goldmenace404 @markell_kelly @mjpplus @bruntz

@YoungNastyShawty @proper @xingu @NeonBuddy

Empty is so

Sonder dropped a little EP a few years back but ever since Brent Faiyaz's ascension, they've been relegated to the background

I thought she dropped something new op you hurt me today

OP goated for this thread

classic project need a new album from her

I hurt your feelings?

I saw on her Insta or Twitter that she might be working with Kaytranada on her next project

So I can't wait for that

Appreciate you

Love this album

need more from her, it’s been too long

give it up 2 me deadass got me through lockdown

Same. That song really spoke to me on a personal level and the atmosphere it presented too was

Remarkable writeup, OP, and I need the Queen in question to make a comeback, at last...

classic project man

A great write up on the album @op

Thank you bro

And she definitely needs to return