Bey, Yaya: Do It Afraid (Coloured Vinyl LP)

Flipping the script with intensity is key to Yaya’s craft, while do it afraid’s power also rests in its pleasures, the sonic embodiment of a smile and the counterpoint to the misconception that Yaya’s music is solely about overcoming hardship.

After breaking out with Remember Your North Star in 2022 and the success of 2024’s transcendent Ten Fold, “I suddenly became like the face of Black struggle,” she says. “But if you know me in real life or been to one of my shows, you know I have a superb sense of humor. I'm funny. Because I'm black. Because we are funny. Because we are inherently joyful and actually being Black is a very f*cking fun experience…but people like to minimize us to one dimension.”

From the softly percussive lover’s anthem “end of the world” to the vaporwave fever dream of “dream girl” to the big stepping, ‘throwin-that-ass-around’ club call “in a circle,” this music feels good.

Liquid gold vinyl version.

1. wake up b*tch
2. end of the world (feat. Nigel Hall & Butcher Brown)
3. real yearners unite
4. cindy rella
5. raisins
6. spin cycle
7. dream girl
8. merlot and grigio (feat. Father Philis)
9. breakthrough
10. a surrender
11. in a circle
12. aye noche (feat. Rahrah Gabor and Exaktly)
13. no for real, wtf?
14. blicky
15. ask the questions
16. bella noches pt. 1
17. a tiny thing that’s mine
18. choice