By | A'Kyra Holley
Who is YEBBA?
I was one of the few in the room when Robert Glasper said, "Some people are literally touched by God," as every person stood in awe at the voice that came out of YEBBA that could genuinely only be given by God... Let me tell you a quick story. YEBBA, whose stage name is a play on her birth name, Abigail Elizabeth Smith, is an American singer and songwriter from West Memphis, Arkansas. YEBBA's father was a preacher, and she grew up singing in the church, becoming a worship pastor by age 15. She was captivated by gospel music and was introduced to music by hearing Aretha Franklin on the radio when she was very young. However, YEBBA's childhood was marked by tragedy when her mother, Dawn, committed suicide in 2016, just as YEBBA was on the verge of a viral breakthrough on YouTube. After her mother's death, YEBBA moved to New York in pursuit of a music career. She struggled with grief and financial difficulties but found solace in going out to jazz bars and jamming with musicians. She began writing and performing her own music, and her spellbinding performance of a song called "My Mind" at a show for Sofar Sounds introduced her voice to the world. YEBBA has endured unspeakable tragedy and remains a thoughtful, funny, and lightly profane person. Her music and feelings cannot be untangled, and she has said that music communicates her pain. And although YEBBA's songs may be borne of sadness, there is also a tremendous amount of freedom found within them. From "My Mind" to now, she has collaborated with several artists, including Chance the Rapper, PJ Morton, Sam Smith, Mark Ronson, Stormzy, Ed Sheeran, A$AP Rocky, and Drake. In 2017, YEBBA independently released "Evergreen," her debut single. In May 2020, YEBBA signed to RCA Records and released her first single under them, "Distance," which was produced by Mark Ronson. In 2021, also produced by Mark Ronson, she released her debut album, Dawn, after her mother. Most recently, In September 2021, YEBBA appeared on Drake's album "Certified Lover Boy" with a song entitled "Yebba's Heartbreak," which serves as the album's interlude. The track features YEBBA's powerful vocals and emotional depth and has been praised as a standout appearance on the album. The collaboration was unexpected but well-received by fans and has helped raise YEBBA's profile in the music industry. A few weeks ago, Drake posted on his Instagram storytelling YEBBA that it was time for her to release a single entitled "Waterfall (I Adore You)." YEBBA responded, "If Drake said so, we have to." YEBBA is the greatest of our and many other generations. Her music has changed so many lives, including my own. I want everyone to tap into that or miss the God-given magic. That’s exactly who YEBBA is, God-given magic.
Kommentare