There are debut albums, and then there are statements. Aryeè The Gem’s ‘Love Tap’ is the latter. A confident, genre-blurring offering that moves like a love letter to femininity, hard-won self-worth, and Black girl joy with teeth. Released by Saint & Citizen Music, the album isn’t just a collection of tracks, but a sonic thesis for a new kind of alt-R&B stardom, delivered by a woman who knows exactly who she is and what she came to do.
From the opening notes, ‘Love Ta’p pulses with intentionality. It’s bold, cinematic, and deeply rooted in emotional precision. With production helmed by Trakmatik and Hvstle, the project carves out a space between futuristic soul and rap-adjacent grit—polished yet raw, dreamy yet grounded. The production doesn’t just support Aryeè’s voice—it amplifies her.
And let’s talk about the features. When your debut includes names like Flo Milli, DRAM, Lakeyah, D Smoke, and Rexx Life Raj, the room knows you didn’t come to play. The lead single, “Pricey” (featuring Flo Milli and Lakeyah), is a sticky, femme-anthem steeped in bougie bounce and main character energy. It’s for the girls who know their worth—and won’t be dimming their shine for anyone. With Flo’s razor-sharp confidence and Lakeyah’s signature bars slicing through the beat, “Pricey” serves luxury with a middle finger to humility.
On “Kickback,” Aryeè links with Westside Boogie for a magnetic cut that simmers instead of exploding. His verse is cerebral and reflective, a foil to Aryeè’s smooth glide through verses about chemistry, control, and tension that never quite settle. It’s the kind of track that lives in eye contact and late-night text threads, quiet fire.
Elsewhere on the album, DRAM lends his syrupy charisma to a track ‘FWM’ that feels like a stoned lullaby for the love-sick, while D Smoke’s verse on ‘Reset’ on another cut elevates the record’s lyrical IQ with the kind of West Coast poetics that feel part sermon, part cipher. Rexx Life Raj slides in with ease, bringing warmth and depth to a record that’s equal parts smoke and shine.
But even with the high-wattage collaborators, it’s Aryeè who commands the spotlight. She’s soft, sharp, introspective, and wild—sometimes all in the same verse. Her vocal tone is syrupy but never sweet for the sake of sweetness; it’s rich with intention. Think Solange meets Tierra Whack, with the vulnerability of SZA and the precision of a poet who’s done her shadow work.
‘Love Tap’ doesn’t ask for permission—it demands presence. It’s the kind of project that lives on playlists and in journals, blasting out of car speakers while you cry or conquer. It’s spiritual without being self-serious, fun without being frivolous.
If this is the beginning of Aryeè The Gem’s era, consider us fully locked in.
Photos / Raph Miller cover image: Image by Pax & Q for Saint & Citizen.
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