On Monday, August 5, trio CIRRRCLE released their collaboration with FLANNEL ALBERT and LATE LEE. “Talkin to Watashi” is a whimsical summer tune about summer flings and their potential to become something more by summer’s end.
Sensual Fluidity
I’m just going to go ahead and say it. The steeze on “Talkin to Watashi” is undeniable. There’s a level of natural swag that each rapper exudes. It makes one feel… fluid. The limbs are less tense, the neck is loose. There’s an intuitive bounce, a natural urge to move with the sway of the music itself. Couple that with delivery that slides so easily in and out of the music. That production and each rapper’s presence strikes a golden moment where both music and artists are in perfect sync.
I’m utterly in love with the musical composition here. While the trip-beat creates a jagged texture, the sound itself is smooth as silk. I just melt into the synths. My body reacts on instinct. Swaying, head back, eyes closed. “Talkin to Watashi” is very obviously not inherently sensual, but damn if I don’t feel every one of my senses on twelve with every turn this track takes.
Music and Artist in Perfect Sync
It’s simple, really. Synths, drum machine, mono-syllabic bassline. But perhaps that’s exactly what makes the music so incredible. The simplicity of its construction allows the listener to fall helplessly. No hesitation. You’re just intrinsically invested in the song, one with every peak and dip of the music.
While I sit here, totally immersed in the utter sexiness of the music itself, I almost don’t even notice there are voices speaking to me. That’s not at all to say that the rappers don’t have a presence. Actually, quite the opposite. CIRRRCLE have such a strong synergy. The trio’s energy is warm. The essence of who they are exudes enormous creative scope. The presence of every artist on the song is as fluid as the music itself. Again, music and artists are in perfect sync. So intertwined with one another, you almost feel like each one is a part of the musical makeup itself.
The Boys
At this point you all know I have a soft spot for both FLANNEL ALBERT and LATE LEE. They’re absolutely a match made in heaven. It’s a marvel to me. So dedicated to their craft, every single time they release music I notice something different. Something a little more elevated than the last time I heard them.
Albert’s flow is just so effortless you wonder if he’s even rapping. Not because of the cadence inherent in the sort of sing-rap he adopts as his main vehicle. But because he makes each lyric, each syllable count. There’s not a drop of his vocabulary and wordplay wasted. His ability to ride a beat is the sweetest sort of lovemaking you can ask for musically.
And LATE… Sometimes I just have to shake my head and sigh. Every time, and I mean every… single… time I hear him he’s reached another level. He’s been away for a while. Some personal issues and his desire to better himself took him away from the public eye for a few months. He was definitely missed. But best believe that time away did him a world of good.
Behold, Another Evolution!
His is one of the most impressive “glow ups” I’ve personally witnessed in a long time. LATE’s verse on this track is so sublimely smooth that I had to rewind the track a few times just to make sure I was listening to the right song. This… this is LATE? Let me tell you something. This young man’s evolution is astronomical. He’s shown such incredible potential in every release for the couple years I’ve known him. Never mind that I knew there was greatness in him. This verse alone proves his own belief in his skill has finally caught up with his endless ambition.
LATE’s delivery is unhurried, unbothered. As if he’s simply breathing into the music. Before this moment there always seemed to be a small kernel of self-doubt holding him back. As if he was tense because he wasn’t 100 percent confident that he could stand up to his ideals. On “Talkin to Watashi,” LATE has finally exhaled. And damn does it ever feel good to hear the looseness in his flow, the ease of his delivery.
Conclusion
This was a glorious track. Simple, uncomplicated with unnecessary frills or soundboard trickery. “Talkin’ to Watashi” while just a fun track about an overseas fling, the details in the song’s crafting, the undeniable brilliance of each performance elevates it to something truly magical.
“Talkin to Watashi” Single Credits:
Lyrics written by Amiide, JYODAN, LATE LEE, FLANNEL ALBERT
Produced by A.G.O
Artwork: Annie Hong