Downtown

## Singles from Downtown

1. "Love, Honey"
Released: July 30, 2021

2. "A Sip of His Cocktail"
Released: November 12, 2021

***Downtown*** is the first studio album released by RCA Records label executive Kandi. It was released on November 5, 2021, as a follow-up to Kandi's 2021 extended play *Uptown*. Announced on October 30, 2021, *Downtown* consists of fifteen tracks spanning various genres from R&B to pop, with even hip-hop and gospel influences scattered throughout. Lyrically, the album focuses on Kandi's sexual lifestyle and loving relationships and is entirely self-written and self-produced by Kandi.

The record was preceded by the release of the lead single "Love, Honey". The "Lush Remix" of "Love, Honey", featuring Doja Cat would be released alongside the album to further promote the record.

## Background

In the Summer of 2021, Kandi was signed to RCA Records as an official label representative. Part of her duties would involve releasing music to represent the label. Kandi conceived of a two-part series where she could represent her musical inspirations and pay homage to the city of Atlanta and also *The Real Housewives* series. The first of these would be the *Uptown* EP, released on July 30, 2021. Kandi would use this EP as an introduction, before writing and recording her first full length album *Downtown*.

## Writing and Recording

The writing process for the album would take place starting in June 2021. The first two tracks conceived for the record were "Love, Honey" and "It's Beautiful (But It's Broke)". Both tracks would first appear on the extended play *Uptown*. Kandi would continue writing songs for the album for the next two months, taking inspiration from the first season of *The Real Housewives of Atlanta* - a short time period before she officially joined the cast*.* Kandi would then self-record and self-produce the record, completing it in August 2021.

## Musical Style and Themes

Primarily an R&B record in the same vein as the *Uptown* EP, *Downtown* also divulges occasionally into a pop-sound, whilst also using the same influences from gospel and hip-hop music as *Uptown*. The songs on the record are of various tempos, with the album as a whole leaning towards a more upbeat speed. The album totals 54 minutes and 25 seconds in length.

While *Uptown* focused partially on Kandi's sexual personality, it's main focus was to represent the city of Atlanta as a whole. *Downtown* takes a less high-end approach, becoming more brazen and obvious with its sexual references and relationship themes. The album also pays homage to many iconic moments and scenes from the first season of *The Real Housewives of Atlanta*.

### Songs

The standard edition of *Downtown* features 15 songs, opening with "Previously On..." - a building intro featuring the sounds of citylife and interpolating song excerpts from *Uptown* and clips from *The Real Housewives of Atlanta*. The first full-length song "Pull Your Pants Up" is a strikingly upbeat track with pop and hip-hop influences denouncing the extroverted player archetypes of men who overstep their boundaries. "Curse Her Out", an R&B track with influences from hip-hop, tells the tale of a former friend stealing Kandi's lover from her, resulting in an angry and aggressive response leaving him as public enemy number-one. The record continues with "Twisted Hearts" - an emotional ballad with gospel sounds, falsely indicating a marriage of two hearts twisting around each other when the reality is a twisted and abusive relationship leaving your heart battered and bruised, but not broken.

The fifth track on the album "Achilles" is an uptempo flirty and sultry song treating a man so perfect and godly like a plaything, dangling his affection in front of him and taking advantage of his weaknesses. "Love, Honey", a slow and flirty love song about knowing exactly when love really is true, references the adult toy brand of the same name. "It's Beautiful (But It's Broke)" follows up the tracklist as a flirty song describing various items that were once adored, but are now no longer functional - stemming from tangible items such as a purse or a credit card, to more serious aspects of your life like a relationship or a friendship.

The album continues with "You're One to Talk" as the eighth track; an abrasive and condescending upbeat song with hip-hop influences directed at a man who is very controlling and demanding in a relationship despite doing shady and questionable things in the background. "Black Leather" is a sultry and sensual number about exploring new ways to keep a relationship exciting in the bedroom, but always coming back to that good old black leather. The tenth track on the record is "A Sip of His Cocktail"; a pop tinged fun and flirty song consisting of sexual innuendos, with sonic vibes of enjoying a nice relaxing day at the beach. A midtempo pop-based piano ballad, "I Always Fall for That", follows up the album describing the pain and heartache of falling for the same type of guy every single time, and never managing to escape that same trap.

"This Isn't About You" is an anxious ballad about the mental and emotional struggles of finally moving on from an ex-lover after many long months, only for them to come back in the picture and torment you once again. "A Lonely Guy from Minnesota", the penultimate full length track on the record, is a piano ballad with gospel influences about finding love when and where its least expected. The final full length song on the standard record, "You'd Be Unhappy Too", is a raw and hurting emotional ballad about revealing the physical and mental struggles and torments of your last relationship, but being unable to bring yourself to talk about it in full. The standard edition of *Downtown* closes with the outro "...To Be Continued" - fading the album out, once again with the sounds of city life.

The album re-issue *Downtown: The Reunion* would feature four new tracks. The "Reunite" interlude is fast, loud and boisterous interpolating clips from *The Real Housewives of Atlanta*. The first of the three new full-length tracks, "Shut Up, Girl!", is a defensive and staccato R&B and hip-hop track about a girl who claims to be a friend but is always throwing shade and slights at you and your man, while her man is up to shady things behind her own back - and all you can do is laugh. The sensual and sultry "He Never Wanted to Be a Woman" discusses the idea that some men really just want to be seen as men - dominant and strong, especially in the bedroom. Kandi stated that this song also was included as a message of support to the trans members of the LGBT+ community. The new tracks close with "You Just Don't Know What You're Doin'" - a hurting and emotional piano-based song about an ex-lover who took what they had for granted and left her for someone they thought was much better - only to find out the grass isn't actually greener on the other side. The song showcases Kandi's hurt at the time of the betrayal, but also the hurt of being strong enough to not let that person back in to do the same again.

## Title and Artwork

The album title for *Downtown* was conceived as a natural successor and counterpart to *Uptown*. While *Uptown* generally represents a more high-class style of living, *Downtown* usually represents the hustle and bustle of a fast club and city life. Additionally, *Downtown* is used as a sexual euphemism, to further represent the themes of the record.

The album photoshoot originally involved Kandi wearing a sky blue dress, while laying on a couch of the same color. After the album cover was shot, it was decided in post-production that a hot pink suits the more outwardly sexual and feminine record than the sky blue. The artwork was then digitally edited to the more representative hot pink color.

## Release and Promotion

*Downtown* was released on November 5, 2021, through RCA Records. On October 30, 2021, Kandi announced the record on her Tootland account, revealing the title, cover and release date in one singular toot. She would then reveal the tracklisting for the album song-by-song in subsequent toots. The album would be simultaneously available for digital download, streaming and physical purchases.

On November 9, 2021, Kandi would announce a reissue of the album, titled *Downtown: The Reunion* on her Tootland account. This version of the album would feature a new interlude alongside three new full-length tracks; "Shut Up, Girl", "He Never Wanted to Be a Woman" and "You Just Don't Know What You're Doin'".

### Singles

The album was preceded by the release of Kandi's debut single "Love, Honey". "Love, Honey" was released on July 30, 2021, alongside the release of the *Uptown* extended play. The song would receive its own "Lush Remix", featuring Doja Cat, releasing officially on November 5, 2021, to coincide with the release of the album. The second and final single from the record "A Sip of His Cocktail" would be announced on November 9, 2021, and would release on November 12, 2021.

Additionally, promotional singles were released to further promote the record - including "It's Beautiful (But It's Broke)" and "Curse Her Out".

## Critical Reception

Upon release, *Downtown* received acclaim from music critics across the industry. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from publications, the album has a weighted mean score of 74 based on 3 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". Critics signalled "Achilles" as their favorite song from the record.

## Commercial Performance

*Downtown* debuted on the Billboard Top Albums Chart, on the issue dated November 7, 2021, with over 96 chart points, at the number-two spot behind Rihanna's *ANNIHILATE*. It would then receive both a silver certification and gold certification on November 14, 2021. The following week, on November 21, 2021, *Downtown* would be officially certified platinum. *Downtown* was the 5th best-performing album of 2021.

## Track Listing

All tracks are written and produced by Kandi.

***Downtown*** - Standard Edition

***Downtown: The Reunion***