Yes or No, Vol. 5: FKA Twigs, Baauer & Willow Smith
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Y: If we played word association with FKA Twigs, “haunting,” “creepy” and “dark” would pop up the most. So yes, this video for “Video Girl,” which focuses on a man who’s about to be lethally injected, is haunting. FKA does slow motion performance-art gyrations while watching him from behind a glass. Then it transitions into her inside the room, straddling him while singing her telltale ghost-like chants into a mic. Close-ups of the lethal fluid make it even more morbid. It’s the most chilling lap-dance you could ever imagine, and this woman’s videos are consistently fantastic. [This Is RnB]
N: Iggy Azalea debuted “Beg For It” on SNL and like much of her music, it could potentially be tolerable if it were released in a parallel world where Iggy raps without a grating blaccent. As is, I’ll pass. [Vulture]
Y: Willow Smith made a sad, sad ballad called “Female Energy,” which borrows from Jhene Aiko’s “Pressure.” She’s either 13 and knows nothing about heartbreak, or she’s really 73 and knows everything about heartbreak. Willow’s shrill vocals still need polishing, but this pseudo-weirdo persona shows promise. [Rap-Up]