All eyes are on BIA.
The Massachusetts-based rapper, born Bianca Miquela Landrau, just released her debut studio album “BIANCA” (out now, Epic Records), a decade after signing to Pharrell’s label and turning heads on the reality series “Sisterhood of Hip Hop.”
Featuring 16 genre-blending tracks, the 34-year-old rapper has been developing the new album for the last three years, following 2020’s EP “For Certain,” which produced her two-time platinum single and Nicki Minaj-remixed “Whole Lotta Money.” She says she held onto a lot of the records until the “right time” came along, with her first full-length project seemingly a fitting place.
” I felt like I hadn’t been through enough to put some of these songs out a couple years ago,” BIA tells USA TODAY over the phone during a brief reprieve from New York City traffic. “I wanted to wait until I felt like the right time was in music and also in my life. I’ve been really intentional with my music and really intentional with my message. So, it’s just all kind of aligning.”
“BIANCA” covers a lot of ground sonically: Trap and pop, Latin and drill influences, and complementary features including pop star Becky G, Puerto Rican breakout Young Miko, rap vets A$AP Ferg and Denzel Curry and R&B superstar Ty Dolla $ign. BIA is characteristically braggadocious, but also explores heartbreak, infidelity and vulnerability. The record’s opening track, “October,” is particularly moody.
Rapper BIA releases her debut studio album, “Bianca,” Oct. 10.
” I didn’t want people to guess what the sound was going to be going into my album. How could I show people that I’ve grown, but I’m also in a new space and trying new things with my artistry as well?” she says. “I’m singing and belting on (“October”). But that’s pretty much the song where I feel like I’m showcasing a lot of my musicality.”
On “For Certain,” BIA says that “version” of her persona was a lot more ” aggressive, maybe a little more hotheaded” and boastful. This time, she says she wanted to be ” intentional and more thoughtful with the energy I was putting into the universe.”
BIA on Cardi B diss: ‘ I respond in my own way’
“BIANCA” doesn’t feature an obvious Cardi B diss, though that’s not to say none of the tracks could be considered responses to the beef that started last year and amped up in September when Cardi B dropped “Pretty & Petty,” with lyrics taking aim at BIA.
” I respond in my own way,” she says. “(But) I would never focus my whole album on negativity. That’s not the energy I choose to put into the world.”
As far as the spat, she says it’s not top of mind. “I’m very much like, that was a year ago for me. So I think if I do respond, it’ll definitely be separate from my album. It’s neither here nor there. I don’t wake up and think about it at all.”
Cardi B disses fellow rapper BIA on new album. What to know about the feud.
BIA talks Latin music and working with Becky G
Her 2020 EP took her worldwide, set her onstage with Nicki Minaj and inspired her to put her spin on other genres: “Pray For You” features South African Amapiano artists Khalil Harrison and Tyler ICU; “+44” is a U.K. drill-influenced track akin to her 2022 J. Cole-assisted single “London”; and “Hard Way” with Becky G sits squarely between Latin pop and rap with a Shakira “Hips Don’t Lie” sample.
” We met each other one Fashion Week. We did a dinner together, and then from there we became really cool,” she says of how the Becky G collaboration came together. “This song was just so perfect. I feel like it captures a very East Coast feel.”
Rapper BIA talks new album “Bianca,” Latin music, growth and staying clear of the drama.
BIA, who is of Puerto Rican and Italian descent, calls the Latin music scene “fresh” with artists like Becky G, Bad Bunny, Rosalía and previous collaborator J Balvin merging with mainstream music.
“There’s so many Latin artists that maneuver that space so well,” she says. “So I always wanted to come with my own flow. Because me being Latinx, there’s a lot of people (whose) Spanish is kind of rusty. It might not be as good, or we’re still learning it, but we’re still very in tune with our culture and our heritage.”
More: BIA brushes off Cardi B diss track, saying ‘I don’t wake up and think about it at all’
BIA says ‘BIANCA’ is ‘beautiful’ and will make women ‘feel powerful’
The “Skate” rapper calls “BIANCA” a “beautiful” project that “doesn’t feel low frequency” – a slang term meaning unrefined or toxic. She says the release comes at an evolved time for the artist.
“It’s a story and it takes you through a day in the life, or more so, some years in the life of just my growth and just maneuvering my way through this thing called life,” she says. “It has moments of vulnerability. It’s raw, it has moments of aggression. I think it’s a well-rounded project.”
Now, the rapper is set to release a music video for “Bad Guy” and is gearing up for international shows. She’s excited for fans to hear something she feels is like “nothing else out.”
“I think it’s going to inspire a lot of people, and I think it’s going to make a lot of women and just all around people feel powerful.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: BIA on debut album ‘BIANCA,’ Cardi B diss, Becky G collab
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source ca.news.yahoo.com ’
