New York City emcee BVNGS has returned for her 9th extended play. Beginning over a decade ago off the strength of her debut EP Not Available, she would follow it up with 7 Dutches & a Sweet Tea, Brown Girls & Bubble Coats, Lula & Only Crying Because I’m Drunk respectively. She later blew up off her 6th EP LaQuisha in the spring of 2021 & only 4 months later, I had the privilege of meeting her at a Catch 1 show in Los Angeles & was impressed by her set. Coming off Mary Mack & Twice a Day w/ Food however, she’s admitting to Only Crying Because I’m Drunk Too.
After the “Statistics Show” intro, the opening song “In Love Again” hooks up a soul sample to get things going talking about her falling for someone whereas “Crazy” embraces a smoother sound instrumentally describing the way this person drives her insane. “Opal” takes a more melodic approach in terms of delivery asking her lover if they’d write her if she was incarcerated while “Reaction” turns up the alternative R&B influences singing about trying to relax.
“Everything That You Do” following “Apple Pie (Bianco’s Interlude)” winds down the last leg of Only Crying Because I’m Drunk Too cavernously addressing someone in her life who makes her feel complete while the syrupy Me Too” gets in her R&B bag again singing about her lover’s body calling her. The outro “Delusional” takes up the EP’s final 135 seconds on an atmospherically alternative R&B note asking this person if she’s a loss to them or if they’d miss her.
Only Crying Because I’m Drunk still remains one of the most vulnerable entries throughout BVNGS’ whole discography, but this sequel takes it up a few notches in terms of vulnerability & capitalizes on her versatility taking more inspiration from R&B music although there are moments where she’s very much rapping. I appreciate Only Crying Because I’m Drunk Too for displaying her artistic range more coming off her appearance on the late Big L’s posthumous 5th & final album Harlem’s Finest: Return of the King.
Score: 7/10