Forever, Ya Girl is the debut studio album by American singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer KeiyaA. It was released on March 27, 2020, through Forever Recordings. It appeared on several year-end lists.
Background The album was recorded between 2017 and 2020 in New York City and Chicago. The cover artwork was designed by Jefferson Harris, with a photograph taken by Rahim Fortune. Music videos were released for the songs "Negus Poem 1 & 2" and "I! Gits! Weary!".
At the 2021 NPR Tiny Desk (Home) Concert, KeiyaA cited Jayne Cortez and Ntozake Shange as sources of inspiration for the album.
Release The album was originally self-released as a digital download on March 27, 2020. The cassette edition of the album was released on June 22, 2020. To coincide with the Bandcamp Friday on December 4, 2020, she released three versions of the album: a CD, a cassette, and a print companion called On Returning My Quikest Language Back to My Mouth.
The vinyl edition of the album was released on March 27, 2021. It was re-released on August 9, 2024, through XL Recordings.
Critical reception
Claire Lobenfeld of Pitchfork stated, "On her debut album Forever, Ya Girl, the Chicago-bred, New York-based singer/producer/multi-instrumentalist KeiyaA merges Earl Sweatshirt-ish grime and the grit of deconstructed club with hints of psych and funk." Andrew Sacher of BrooklynVegan commented that "Its ingredients — R&B, funk, jazz, psychedelia — are styles of music often associated with groups of musicians who harmonize and improvise with each other, but you can really feel how Forever, Ya Girl is an album by a sole individual who was in her own head while making it."
Accolades + Year-end lists for Forever, Ya Girl Publication List Rank Clash Clash Albums of the Year 2020 Complex The Best Albums of 2020 Crack The Top 50 Albums of 2020 Esquire The 50 Best Albums of 2020 The Fader The 50 Best Albums of 2020 The Guardian The 50 Best Albums of 2020 Okayplayer Okayplayer's Best Albums of 2020 Paste The 50 Best Albums of 2020 Pitchfork The 50 Best Albums of 2020 Vice The 100 Best Albums of 2020
Track listing
Personnel Credits adapted from liner notes.
KeiyaA – vocals, production DJ Blackpower – additional production (3, 12, 14, 16) DJ Cowriiie – additional production (15) Bstfrnd – mixing, mastering Jefferson Harris – cover design, artwork Rahim Fortune – photography
References
External links