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Every youthful triumph and mishap is a matter of public record.
But the aggressiveness of the pivot is jarring, and the timing seems cursed.
OnXOXO, Lil Nas X and the City Girls appear, and Drake gets two songs back to back.
PinkPantheress and BLP Kosher appear in interludes, and Future, Pitbull, and The-Dream are sampled.
Shes largely writing lyrics without calling a cadre of co-writers, guest stars notwithstanding.
At its best,XOXOdrifts between self-certainty and capriciousness, loving and hurting its way to maturity.
But Cabellos natural instincts to fit in can undermine attempts to stand out.
and June Gloom take after New Years Day.
This strategy often works out.
He Knows stars Lil Nas X, who steals the show by telling a guy where to finish.
Here, the sample drifts in the background fleshing out Camilas writing without overtaking her choruses.
But no one could predict the tumultuous year its guests have had.
(JT and Yung Miamispent months feudingbefore the latter confirmed the end of the group in June.)
Cruising through the rollout without addressing much controversy challengesXOXOs feigned edginess.
Doja Cat wouldve just told everyone to fuck off.
Despite its air of pastiche and deeply chaotic rollout,XOXOdocuments chameleonic talents.
Camila disappears into a performance, jumping around octaves and shifting tone and delivery.
Auto-Tuned Swiftisms soaring over a piece of Pitbulls Hotel Room Service in B.O.A.T.
entice despite feeling like theReputationstar commandeering Futures vocal-processing chain on End Game.
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