Consistent.
That’s the best word to describe Marc E. Bassy. The contemporary R&B artist teamed up with producer and songwriter Nic Nac last summer for his sixth studio album, NO HArD FEELINGS, and delighted fans in February with the deluxe version.
The 15-track album is noticeably short at just 32 minutes, teasing listeners with groovy one-to-two-minute songs. Bassy is notably candid and mature on the back half of the project but maintains his signature sound alongside features from long-time collaborators and fellow Bay Area natives, G-Eazy and Bobby Brackins.
The project opens with the minute-long interlude “Miss Me.” Between the intro, outro, and honey-dipped female vocals, the track is undeniably dynamic. The unnamed vocalist sings, unbothered, about wanting the company of a man she knows enjoys other women’s attention. This soft orchestral track weaved in at the end sets the stage for what is, sonically, a lively and interesting album.
With the talents of artists from his label, New Gold Medal, Bassy then floats across “Ten Toes” featuring Keenan TreVon and “Don’t Hold Me” featuring Nvrhme. Both songs are about being ready for commitment, but wanting to maintain autonomy and freedom, with Bassy asserting, “You don’t gotta let me go / but don’t control me, baby,” on the latter track.
A rhythmic melody and Bassy’s crisp singing dominate the former, and coupled with an infectious refrain and TreVon’s smooth verse, “Ten Toes” is one of the more understated tracks on this latest offering. “Don’t Hold Me,” on the other hand, is a DJ’s dream. With a steady, almost pulsing beat, this is one you could easily hear being mixed at the club.
Now, if you need a song to blast with the windows down in the middle of summer, look no further than “Goodness Baby” featuring Bobby Brackins. Bassy is ultra suave as he sing-raps about getting down with his lover, and showing her a good time. His clear, confident tone is the perfect transition to Brackins’ raspy vocals in the second verse.
Compared to the instant hit that is “Goodness Baby,” you may need to listen to “Off Me” featuring Brayden Kelly a few times before you decide whether you like it. The more you do, the message hits harder than expected: letting go of what doesn’t serve you is almost always the right choice, regardless of the consequences. Bassy sings passionately, “Get this shit off me, get this shit off me / I don’t care what it costs me.”
And it wouldn’t be a true Bassy album if he didn’t include at least a few sensual tracks. “Barbados” feat. Karri feels particularly seductive. A splashing water sound effect plays during Karri’s verse as he serenades his lover, offering to fly her out to the song title’s namesake island. Filipino-American and San Francisco-born R&B singer Karri brings a depth and texture to the song that complements Bassy well.
Listeners are left wanting more, though, from the vibe-heavy track “2 Much.” Tapping out at about a minute and a half, the song pays homage to legendary vocalist Luther Vandross’ 1981 hit “Never Too Much.” Bassy’s voice is like butter as he croons, “Baby, sing like Luther when we touch / All it takes, one touch,” and you can’t help but feel like this song should be longer.
NO HArD FEELINGS strikes gold with standouts “All My Life” and “Hurricane,” marking a significant shift from the more lighthearted content of the earlier tracks. Bassy is at his most vulnerable here, expressing his gratitude and love for his partner, finally leaving his past behind to cherish the life they’ve made together, while also entering a new chapter in his career.
The “You & Me” singer opens up about wanting to be successful for his daughter, and the challenge of balancing his career with family responsibilities. In “Hurricane,” he sings, “Glory gonna know her daddy is one of a kind / I know my baby hate it, hope she doesn’t mind.”
Following the more explicit, emotion-driven tracks comes “Numb,” in which Bassy speaks to the exhaustion that come from being in the industry for so long, and still not reaching certain heights. He raps, “Back against the wall, but I won’t fold, / Hero in my city, but I get it on a cold road.” He acknowledges the reality of being an independent artist, but his tone preaches resilience and an undying love for the game.
Perhaps the only missteps here are “Slide” feat. G-Eazy and “Just In Case.” Bassy delights with his rarely-heard falsetto on the former, but the track feels disjointed and lacks energy, while “Just In Case” is simply not as memorable compared to more well-rounded songs on the album.
This project is both classic Bassy and a showcase of his growth. In an era where artists are neglecting bridges and shooting for sound bites and catchy melodies, it’s difficult not to wish that the album, especially for a deluxe edition, delivered longer tracks. Bassy’s longest record to date stands at just over an hour, and this is certainly an album where more would’ve put it over the top.
Nevertheless, Bassy is skilled at producing music that sticks with you because of his purposeful feature selection and storytelling, but also in the way he manages to inject genuine fun and joy into his releases.
This album is a representation of Bassy’s changing lifestyle and continuously developing artistry, despite him being nearly 20 years into his career. He is at his best when he strikes a balance between the cool, comfortable, and catchy style that his fans love, while showing how he’s evolved over the years. NO HArD FEELINGS is no exception.
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Image taken from Spotify, Marc E. Bassy
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