Monaleo - Who Did The Body (Album Review)
“All the cute black girls streaming my shit”
Sexy Soulaan
Since her breakout single, “Beating Down Your Block,” dropped, Houston’s Monaleo has never shied away from dropping bold bars and representing the all-pink girlies well. This year just might be Monaleo’s biggest yet from first marrying the love of her life, North Carolina’s Stunna 4 Vegas, in an all-pink Texas-trill styled wedding, to dropping “Sexy Soulaan,” which has since sparked a debate about the modern Pan-Africanism movement. Dropping “Who Did The Body” during October brought about such a cute, spooky vibe as she called her fans “Morticians” and the cover art shows her standing in a coffin, giving adherence that she is literally killing the rap game.
This album touches on spirituality and faith, family and friends, and the transcendence of her fame and impact even in the afterlife. Signifying culture as an album's theme gives so much context into Monaleo’s upbringing and her traditional values. This is a refreshing approach, especially if we were to compare it to other albums in this current state of rap music. I am a personal fan of how much attention to detail she puts into her releases - from visuals to lyrics to rollouts - she gives her fans something different every time. Let’s give a breakdown to some of the standout tracks on the album.
“Is it Heaven for a pimp? Shit it gotta be””
”Life After Death” is such an introspective starter track, asking the one question that people are scared to ask and giving perspective that, even in death, her legacy will go on to live. Talking about death is also still sometimes seen as a taboo topic in the Black community so opening the album with this song is a bold (but good) choice. We next flow into “Bigger Than Big,” which is sonically brilliant. Both funerals and praise are done in a church and she recruits Zaytoven’s signature organ sound for this (if you didn’t know, Zaytoven still plays in a church to this day).
“I need my reparations bitch, better send me my shit”
“Sexy Soulaan” is probably the first time I’ve heard a female rapper make a fully pro-Black hit song in YEARS. Including colloquialisms like “never putting your purse on the ground” “spit on the broom” and “dreamin’ bout fish” that are so specially Black American, I can easily see how it’s becoming a cultural anthem.
“I’m popping this shit in real life, they popping that shit for reels”
”Putting Ya Dine” is the breakout hit track from this album and speaks so much to her effortless flow. “Open The Gates” is such a reminiscent track, reliving all of her fallen homegirls through her words. Houston’s Lizzo is her only female feature on her album on the stripped-down “Freak Show” and she’s such a complement on this beat. The other features for this tape go on her “We On Dat (REMIX)” with Bun B, Lil Keke, and Paul Wall, giving reverence to some Houston rap legends.
Houston is a hub for female rappers and Monaleo is a testament to the region’s musical greatness. This album works duality well - perfect for both the club with your homegirls or the family reunion with your folks. She is currently on her “Who Did The Body” tour Make sure to watch the music video for “Putting Ya Dine” here and tap into “Who Did The Body” out on all major streaming platforms now!