There are songs you listen to, and then there are those that seize you by the edges of your hoodie and command you to get up and go. Ki Storii's latest release, "HTBU 2," is a latter member. Running with the swagger of NYC drill, the aggression of rock, and the bounce of NOLA, this high-energy offering is a bold, fearless anthem that packs a serious punch fast and doesn't pull any punches.
"HTBU 2" is hot. Its bassline is growling, and the beat demands and insists on attention. Ki Storii stays crisp on the beat and serves verses of self-assured confidence and homegirl camaraderie with the kind of straight baddie energy that makes you stop and heed.
There's something infectious about how Ki Storii stitches her worlds together. The city's in her rhythm, New York drill grit squares the foundation, and she flips the switch when you think you've nailed the vibe. Add blistering guitar licks and bounce rhythms that will have even the wallflowers two-stepping like Mardi Gras on Mars. Beyond the beats and blends, the message separates "HTBU 2". It is a paean to female strength and friendship and a space where women can be loud, proud, and powerful together.
If blaring from headphones on a lone strut through the city or kick-starting a girls' night out, "HTBU 2" is designed to move in the physical and cultural senses. Ki Storii isn't simply genre-bending, she's energy-bending, modernizing an age-old scene with a raw and fun attitude.