Scenic Drive (mixtape)

## **Singles from *Scenic Drive***

1. "Present"
Released: October 22, 2021

***Scenic Drive***, also known as ***Scenic Drive (The Tape)***, is the first mixtape by Khalid, released on December 3, 2021, by RCA Records. Initially slated to be an extended play, he decided it was "way more special". It was preceded by the single "Present" and features guest appearances from Alicia Keys, 6LACK, Lucky Daye, QUIN, JID and Kiana Ledé.

He informed *Billboard*, "This tape is a perfect representation of the person I became over the years, but also the person who I was at the beginning. All of the collaborators did an amazing job. The songs melt into one another and everything was intentional in that we wanted to bring in people that I respect, whose music I listened to and that I've actually had conversations with."

## Synopsis

Since Khalid first debuted in 2017, he's been an emblem of the ever blurry line between pop and R&B, naturally resulting in some fans leaning more towards one version of him than the other. *Scenic Drive* is proudly for the latter group. The first songs, "Present" and "Backseat," are solo outings, with the singer displaying a savvy proficiency in both the nostalgic past and the fluid present. But it's when he calls on some heavy-hitter peers for the remaining tracks that we're really reminded of his bona fides.

"Retrograde" is a wounded fame-is-hard-but-love-is-harder jam that features Lucky Daye and 6LACK—with whom he's had a magnetic artistic chemistry since 2018's "OTW"—and duets with QUIN ("Brand New") and Kiana Ledé ("Voicemail") are tender in their intertwined melodies. On "Open," he's joined by Majid Jordan for a sensual slow-burner, while "All I Feel Is Rain," with JID, and "Scenic Drive," with Smino and Ari Lennox, provide still soulful injections of hip-hop. Khalid's collaborators all have starpower on their own, but he's never outshined here; instead, he uses the unique qualities of his voice to highlight those of his guests to striking effect. For an artist who introduced himself as an "American teen," *Scenic Drive* is silky smooth maturation.

## Critical reception

*Scenic Drive* generated mixed reviews. At Metacritic, the album received a score of 58 out of 100, based on reviews from 4 critics, indicating "mixed or average".

Timothy Monger of AllMusic wrote, "A mellow blend of low-key, late-night, left-field pop and yearning R&B, the release boasts a number of intriguing high-profile collaborator." Dani Blum was also unimpressed, writing for *Pitchfork*, "With a stacked guest list, the 23-year-old singer's latest mixtape showcases his curatorial instincts even as it cruises through a familiar landscape of soft, shapeless R&B." In similar sentiment, Annabel Nugent of *The Independent* stated, "If Scenic Drive sets out to be an easy-listening accompaniment to a late-night ride, it's successful. But if you're looking for something with more clarity and oomph, your car horn may be the better option."

A. D. Amorosi wrote positively in his review, "'Scenic Drive' is a pulsating, minor marvel of economical soul-hop that satisfies all that Khalid fanatics have come to crave — that high dozy warble, those out-of-the-blue hooks—while pushing his new-found exigency (and lower range) into the future. [...] Khalid's famed, fluttering vocal range is on full display on "Scenic Drive's" last gasp, as the album's finale shows off a 23-year-old moving groovily into a next chapter."

## References

1. ↑ "Khalid (@thegreatkhalid)". *Twitter*. October 22, 2021.
2. ↑ Aderoju, Darlene (December 15, 2021). "Khalid Says Soulful New EP 'Scenic Drive (The Tape)' Is the 'Perfect Representation of the Person I Became'". *Billboard*.
3. ↑ "Scenic Drive (The Tape) by Khalid Critic Reviews". *Metacritic*.
4. ↑ Monger, Timothy (January 3, 2022). "Scenic Drive (The Tape) Review by Timothy Monger". *AllMusic*.
5. ↑ Blum, Dani (January 4, 2022). "Khalid: Scenic Drive Album Review". *Pitchfork*.
6. ↑ Nugent, Annabel (December 8, 2021). "Khalid review, Scenic Drive: R&B singer delivers a second album that's all vibe, no edge". *The Independent*.
7. ↑ Amorosi, A. D. (December 3, 2021). "Khalid Makes a Tiny 'Tape' Into Something Torrid With 'Scenic Drive': Album Review". *Variety*.