BurnaMaliek’s new project U Evol I offers an introspective look at the perils of a toxic love affair. The six-track effort sees Maliek rapping and singing over moody, sample heavy R&B instrumentals that only add to the lovelorn feel of the project.
The tape begins with “She Taxin,” a track where Maliek balances being tired of women using men as bank accounts while pointing out that in many cases, men are in no place to judge.
Lines like “Put the body on him, she taxin,” “She shakin ass on the low, she stackin cash on the low,” and “You tryna judge her but you not above her, that job for the lord not a mad man” paint a vivid picture of the clash between gold diggers and men who don’t know how to treat their women.
BurnaMaliek’s next cut “Focus” sees the young talent pleading with his lover to stop listening to what everyone else says about their relationship while fighting with his own demons. BurnaMaliek’s heart bleeds over the beat as he talks about being forced to become emotionally unavailable at times due to the struggles he’s endured.
While not mentioning it explicitly in the song, much of what he is feeling stems from the tragic loss of his grandmother due to gun violence. This painful memory is the fire that keeps BurnaMaliek going and serves as the inspiration behind the “burna” in his name, which refers to the gun that killed his grandmother.
“…this gun also holds an extreme flame that is only unleashed when the trigger is pushed. The flame the burna releases can burn indeed, these events have led to how my artist name came about,” BurnaMaliek explained.
U Evol I’s third track “No Doubt” focuses on Maliek’s undying love for his partner as well as what he had to do to make it to this point in his career. With lyrics like “only girl I want she the number one dancer” and “I shined out from section 8”, the audience is given a quick glimpse of the rapper’s romantic life and the life he’s escaped from.
The tape’s next two tracks “Trust Nobody” and “Loving You” unveil BurnaMaliek’s trust issues as well as his desire to better others before himself because of them. The two tracks work in tandem with each other perfectly to help the listener understand what kind of person he is.
U Evol I’s final track “The Woods” is a complete 180 from the previous five tracks with a jovial piano beat, high pitched auto-tuned singing and watery drum lines. However, the song serves as an interesting change of pace that gives his fans a taste of his versatility.
Check out U Evol I and its accompanying visual album below!
