Lover Girls: Are You “Finally Over It”? Here’s How to “Cut Ties”

Black women are the backbone of R&B. With cultural appropriators like the artist behind “Pookie’s Requiem,” it is important to remember this. Moreover, as the pioneers of the genre, it makes sense that Black women are not only transforming the genre but also rooted in its essence. Summer Walker’s emotive delivery and trap-infused instrumentals offer an unfiltered glimpse into the highs and lows of modern love, often feeling more like a cathartic journal entry. 

She is one of the modern R&B girls who can navigate new terrain (with trap R&B) while also remaining true to its core. For others, like Kiana Ledé, they take a more traditional approach. Ledé’s silky vocals and steady, mellow production, often feel like the confidant you call during a reflective night. In this (very) short listicle, we will review two pivotal projects in Ledé’s and Walker’s respective discographies.

• Cut Ties

Kiana Ledé opens Cut Ties as only a lover girl could: through a ballad pleading for her lover. “Your love makes me nervous; it’s perfect in every way,” she sings. As a lifetime lover girl, I appreciate this opening. Although I am familiar with Ledé’s M.O., and I know what’s coming, I value the storytelling she utilizes in her sequencing. Storytelling is Ledé’s forte; she doesn’t shy away from it on this album.

With this being her third studio LP, you can see (and hear) her progression and growth from project to project. KIKI drew us in with its touches of love, heartbreak, and justice. Grudges kept our attention by giving more gripping and vulnerable details of heartbreak told through succinct snippets. Now, when we arrive at Cut Ties, we are in for yet another journey.

“It’s always right till it goes wrong,” she croons on “U Can’t Remember.” This rings true as she paints love with broad strokes. Although the opening tracks were more upbeat and whimsical, Track 3 introduces a problem: her lover can’t remember how to treat her. As she grapples with this beast, she must “Burn It Up” – the memory of the previous love she and this lover shared.

Yet, cutting ties is not easy, and recovery is not linear. By Track 5, Ledé is longing for her lover again. “As long as I’m breathing, you’ll be my weakness,” she sings with the passion of a scorned former partner. “It’s too many strings to be caught up in your wants and your needs…when you’re tied up, it’s not simple to leave,” she reminds listeners on this track.

She carries this idea of reneging into the title track. A lover calls, and she picks up because she is so used to negative interactions. Yet, this is another one of those engagements. “Always a catch,” Ledé reminisces. She then notes that she’s “about to be bulletproof” because she now believes in cutting ties. “At this point, I’d rather be alone,” she laments.

At this point, the album reaches a turning point. 

“No Stress” exemplifies a woman scorned who’s now healed. Midway through the hook, Ledé realizes, “Didn’t even give me your best.” This is not the only realization she has during the catharsis. To her, this past interaction “ain’t nothing but a lesson.” As she doles out these life lessons, Ledé gets vulnerable on “Space & P**sy.”

She outlines the failings of the relationship and everything she did to preserve something that was ultimately unsalvageable. She gave this lover “space and p**sy,” and it still wasn’t enough to keep them. “You knew I deserved more,” she tells her past fling. When listening to Ledé harp on these hard lessons, the feeling is cathartic.

She has finally released herself from the shackles of her past; she’s cut ties. In the last two tracks, Ledé remains reflective and strong. In “Outta Luck,” she reminds her lover that they are outta luck in trying to find another her.

Her final track “The Truth?” showcases her ability to heal herself. She is ready to accept new love. “Give me one more round; I’m a heavyweight.” This healing energy resonates with the essence of R&B – rhythm and blues, and people often forget the latter. Ledé is not the only artist who has cemented herself as a force in the genre.

• “Heart of a Woman”

Summer Walker also had a trilogy of albums following the difficulties of love. Like Ledé, she seamlessly blends soul, heartbreak, and empowerment into her music. However, while they share similar themes, their approaches to storytelling and sonic choices distinguish their discographies in powerful ways.

For Walker, this is more of a trap-soul sound. Additionally, Walker promises this new project will reflect healing more than heartbreak. Even the title, Finally Over It, indicates that Walker is ready to move on from her past follies with lazy lovers.

In her lead single, Walker is reflective. She reminds her lover that the only thing saving them is the heart of a woman. In other words, without the grace and forgiveness bestowed on them by women, they would be lost. This heartfelt anthem that will surely take over beauty shops everywhere represents the nature of lover girls: we love to love. If the rest of the album sounds like this, it would be an excellent conclusion to a series of unfortunate events.

Although Walker has not released her project yet, she did post a teaser to social media where she referenced key tracks from each album. This clever promotion exemplifies Walker’s ability to tell stories through songs. As we await the highly anticipated third studio album from the R&B Princess, we leave you with this question: have you Cut Ties and are you Finally Over It?