Kacy Hill, Actualized: 'Is It Selfish If We Talk About Me Again' Album Review
By Carter Fife
The past few years have been quite strange for Kacy Hill.
Three years have passed since the release of Hill’s 2017 debut record Like A Woman, which was not only executive-produced by Kanye West but also released by his label, G.O.O.D Music. At the time of its release, Like A Woman was a lightning rod for critical acclaim as it established Kacy Hill both as a powerful force in pop music, and as a contemporary mainstay that masterfully occupied opposite emotional registers of delicacy and power. Even today, sifting through her Instagram comments always yields a few hopeful fans asking Kacy to make another “90210” with Travis Scott, or to work with Kid Cudi or Cashmere Cat again. In 2019, Kacy Hill decided to leave G.O.O.D. Music, citing a desire to regain creative control without having to be flexible to those from the label. Independent and driven, the past few years have seen Kacy starting training for Olympic weightlifting, collaborating with Cashmere Cat on his 2017 record 9, and dropping 5 singles before last week’s release of her sophomore record, Is It Selfish If We Talk About Me Again.
Is It Selfish If We Talk About Me Again sees Kacy Hill both at her most pensive and vulnerable self, as well as her most inspired and uplifted. This is a welcome reflection of growth considering how on Like A Woman, we heard the Phoenix songwriter delve into her own desires, whether it was to be loved, to find love, to seek fairness in relationships, or to be strong, respected, and powerful. Ultimately the 2017 record was a reflection of Hill’s struggle of self-actualization in the midst of emotional and romantic turmoil. This was even reflected in the wake of the record’s release, as several headlines identified her only by her proximity to her label, or as Kanye West’s protégé. While at the time this may have seemed harmless, it seems likely that his treatment led Kacy Hill to develop a sense of Impostor Syndrome instead of earned confidence after graduating from Yeezus Tour dancer to established industry talent. Even when her label departure was covered by HotNewHipHop, the writer mistakingly included an image of a redhead woman that wasn’t even her. Thankfully years later Hill has no need to find her identity, as now she has found serenity with herself and what she wants. Both of these things are illustrated in the album’s 11 tracks, where Kacy Hill navigates self-doubt and relationship anxieties alongside her own fears of time and everything temporary.
Kacy Hill’s sophomore record completely shattered my expectations, as it is rare that a record like this balances narrative cohesion, profound writing and lyricism, and subversive musical styles that achieve soaring highs and relaxed lows at every turn. The album begins with two songs that grapple with the past, as Kacy Hill looks within and faces her own self-doubt on tracks like “To Someone Else” and “Much Higher”. The former is full of steady and rhythmic moments where Kacy is forced to bravely look to the future, before the chorus breaks through with layered vocal and little falsetto melodies that aid in transitioning to the next track. The latter song, “Much Higher”, is both catchy and glitchy, synthesizing older and newer styles of pop music as Hill looks to the past and accepts her past romances for the good, and the bad.
Hill’s narrative stays on a clear trajectory throughout the project, as the next few songs are concerned with a newer and more positive relationship. On tracks like “I Believe In You” featuring Francis and the Lights (who was a writer and producer for many of the songs on this record), Hill’s optimism and confidence shine as she sings about quelling hopelessness with positivity, love, and mindfulness. She sings “I believe in you / and you are my proof / that everything gets better and / that love can be true” over a space track whose minimal ambiance serves as a foundation to elevate the performances of Kacy and Francis. The song “Porsche” is a glittery and indie-pop banger about unlearning past behaviors and thoughts about oneself, getting a fresh start, and learning to love another person, and in the process, yourself. The whole time this is happening, Is It Selfish If We Talk About Me Again never comes off as indulgently saccharine or emotional, instead providing Hill’s signature touching approach to a broad emotional register.
While there is certainly much to love about Is It Selfish If We Talk About Me Again, the album is not without its moments of weakness. Upon seeing the brief tracklist for the first time, it was strange to see that over half of the record was made up of previously-released tracks, including Dinner that, while a great track, came out almost two years ago. This record may also be too laid-back for some people’s tastes, as many of the songs adopt a much softer aural register than Like A Woman’s, perhaps to more intimately convey their message and meaning. This, however, is done at the expense of making a more universally consumable pop record, and although I have a great deal of respect for every song the album, it is unlikely that I will play “Told Me” next time I get aux in my friend’s car. Despite the fact that these songs are much more relaxed and minimalistic than we may be used to, this is more than made up for with tracks like “Everybody’s Mother” and “Unkind” that are more intense by comparison.
Is It Selfish If We Talk About Me Again is one of the strongest records of the year so far, and though the album may have benefitted from a handful of additional tracks, it was definitely worth the wait. Kacy Hill once again has established herself as a powerful force in pop music, and I sincerely look forward to what she makes in the future.
favorite tracks
Everybody’s Mother
Palladium
Unkind
Rating: 9
Listen to Is It Selfish If We Talk About Me Again here:
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