K.T.S.E.

This is Teyana Taylor's second studio album titled K.T.S.E. This acronym stand for Keep That Same Energy. This is a bit of a reversal from my previous two posts. The first two talk about a male's perspective when it comes to love and this one is coming from a female's.

The first track "No Manners" is a good intro track. It starts with a romantic string section and a mention of her hubby Iman Shumpert. She says that she keeps him ransom and that even though she has a man, she doesn't have any manners. She also addresses her ex by saying that she's good and never been better. This track has a sudden stop at the end and transitions to the next track "Gonna Love Me".

The next track has a very strong R&B feeling. Teyana Taylor spills out her heart to her man by saying, "I wanna spend my nights with you. My life with you, oh baby, babe". This song samples "I Gave to You" by The Delfonics. This sample gives it more of a soulful vibe. This comes to no surprise knowing that Kanye West produced this whole album. This instrumental brings you back to the early 00's Kanye West production. All Teyana Taylor wants is for her man to love her and squeeze her.

"Issues / Hold on" is also a very strong R&B song but features a not-so-sweet side of love.

In the first verse she states, "Fighting to keep us together, hope it's worth a try. You ain't always been an angel but heaven's on our side. I got my demons too, I know just how you feel. You can be real with me, that's why you're still with me". She is willing to compromise a bit because she knows that she has her own demons as well. "This is deeper than you and other women, this is daddy issues This is years putting up with the wrong type n****s" end the first verse. This illustrates that she has issues from her early childhood and her adult life. Not only did her dad leave her and her mother but she also has had issues with her other relationships. The second verse goes through the same emotion that she needs to have that reassurance. She also doesn't want to leave her man and cries for him to not leave her.

"Hurry" has a slower tempo and is more sexual than the previous tracks. Right off the bat she states, "Keep your eyes all on this fatty If you like what you see take your hands and grab it". Kanye West even has a verse on this album. He highlights a lustful situation in the middle of it with, "She in love with a man she can’t be with. But she know that p***y gon' leave him seasick. Every time she round, she get treat like the sidekick. Until that side chick went and got some side d**k". He shows that this scenario is a two way street even though this male though the opposite was true.

"3Way" goes further with the sexual theme. Teyana Taylor states that she would do anything for her man. "Anything for my baby, I'd do some crazy things (yeah). So whatever he want, he can get that. Long as I like, we can hit that, hoes, we don't love 'em, no. Soon as we done she leavin' right out the door" right off the bat says that she'll even have a threesome in order to please her man. Even though they go through this, they don't love the extra partner; they're just there for the moment. She only turns up the heat with the next verse, "I'ma take off my skirt then she gon' touch me right there. Then it's gon' be your turn, so, baby, don't you be scared. We gon' need all of your lovin', whatever you got to give. You was talkin' and s**t, time to get up in them ribs tonight". Ty Dolla $ign comes in with a verse that improves the album. He adds a male perspective to this track. He brings the same energy by singing, "Ooh, three ways, her on top of me. You, on my face, ride me like the Wraith. With the stars on the ceiling, told me I'm too deep in". The track ends by Ty Dolla $ign and Teyana Taylor harmonizing the chorus.

"Rose in Harlem" is by far, in my opinion, the best song on the whole album. It is the star of the album and definitely the climax. This is yet again another sampled track. This samples "Because I Love you Girl" by The Stylistics. It brings more of an bravado to this album. It shows that even though Teyana Taylor has been through adversity she still stands strong. She states in the first verse, "I been down, I been loyal. When you really hold it down N****s ain't even really down for ya. Oh no, what a shame 10 years in the game N****s like 'You ain't hot? You ain't pop yet? What's up wit' you and Ye?' She addresses that she's been loyal even though people haven't brought back the same energy. The chorus stands out in this amazing track. It is not only a sample but also quotes Tupac's poem "The Rose that Grew from Concrete". The refrain is a warning to a young girl that it is always the ones closest to you that end up screwing you over. In the second verse she addresses her haters by stating, "I just bought my third house. No album out and I got 'em asking. 'What do she do?' I do everything. I move everything". She lets people know that even though it took a long time to put out her second album she's still making moves.

"Never Would Have Made It" is a song of appreciation to her man. She says that he is "the sunshine to her night". She says that she is grateful for him and learned from her past experiences in order to finally know what she wants. Teyana sings, "The road to hell was paved with good intentions. No matter which way you, no matter which way you take". This has been said to be an ode to Lauryn Hill's "Mr. Intentional where she says, "See, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Can’t you tell, the way they have to mention". Overall this song is very cheerful and uptempo. It shows that she is happy in her current relationship.

"WTP" is the final track on this album. This is a complete 180 degree turn from the whole album. WTP stands for Work This P***y. This is sampled from the track Work This P***y by Ellis D. This track is very popular in the LGBT community and specifically the Harlem Ballroom scene from the 80s. This track was popular when it came to voguing down catwalks. This song is very repetitive and hypnotic. Teyana Taylor brings the same sexual energy in her verses as she did from the whole album.

Overall, this album is a strong sophomore album for Teyana Taylor. I would rate this album a strong 7 out of 10. The album has a very strong soulful vibe and shows Teyana Taylor's skillset as an artist. The only reason I wouldn't give it an 8 is because the last track breaks the record's consistency. The only reason that this is critical is because the album is only 8 tracks long and when it is this short every track counts even more.

#KTSE #LaterThatNight #TeyanaTaylor