Forever, Ya Girl
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 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."Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.- KeiyaA – vocals, production
- DJ Blackpower – additional production
- DJ Cowriiie – additional production
- Bstfrnd – mixing, mastering
- Jefferson Harris – cover design, artwork
- Rahim Fortune – photography