The write-up
Abby Jasmine's I'll Be Home Soon is one of those projects where the personality of the artist is just as important as the music itself. Abby has a naturally cool approach to rap that never feels like she's reaching for a moment. She gets on the beat, finds her pocket and lets her delivery do the rest.
Her voice is a huge part of what makes this project work for me. There's a slight rasp to it that gives her bars some extra character, and she knows how to manipulate her tone depending on the energy of the track. Sometimes she's more relaxed and conversational, other times there's a sharper edge behind her words. She doesn't have to yell or overcrowd a verse to make her presence known. The confidence comes through in the way she carries herself.
The production complements that approach really well. There's bounce throughout the project, but it also leaves enough space for Abby to play with different cadences. She rides certain beats with an almost nonchalant energy, then switches her rhythm just enough to keep you locked in. That ability to make rapping sound easy is one of my favorite things about listening to her.
As a full body of work, I'll Be Home Soon moves well. It doesn't feel like a collection of songs fighting to become the biggest record. Instead, you get to spend time with Abby's style and hear the different ways she approaches a track. There's humor, attitude, reflection and plenty of moments where she simply gets in her bag.
Standout tracks
My standouts are "I'll Be Home Soon," "Head of My Class," "The World Is Yours," "#NEEDTHAT," "Bitter" and "Dejavu." That run of favorites really speaks to what kept me interested in the project overall. There isn't one specific formula behind the songs I gravitated toward. Each one caught me for a different reason, whether it was the beat, a flow switch, her tone or simply the energy she brought to the record.
What I appreciate most about I'll Be Home Soon is that Abby Jasmine sounds like herself. In a space where it can be easy for artists to start blending into whatever sound is having a moment, there's still something identifiable about her. You hear that voice and that delivery and know exactly who stepped on the track.
This project was a reminder for me of just how much Abby brings to hip-hop when she's locked in. The bars matter, the production matters, but the presence is what ties everything together.
I'll Be Home Soon sounds like Abby Jasmine pulling back up with something to say, and I'm glad I pressed play.