Ella Mai

by 
AlbumOct 12 / 201816 songs, 55m 28s
Contemporary R&B
Popular

“Boo’d Up” had been in the world for more than a year before it became an out-of-the-blue smash, and no one was more taken aback than the person who made it. But Ella Mai didn\'t rush into a studio to capitalize on the success by immediately coughing up an album—the British singer and DJ Mustard protégé had already been at work on her full-length debut for a year. “When ‘Boo’d Up’ really did start to take off, we already were prepared, because I already had stuff in the vault ready to go,” she told Beats 1 host Julie Adenuga. “I didn’t feel like I had to just put something together or be like, ‘Aw, this might not be good, but we need to put it out.’ And I never wanna feel like that.” Indeed, Mai arrives fully formed, as at ease with the upbeat (“Dangerous”) as she is with slow and sultry (“Run My Mouth”), and holding her own with both fellow up-and-comer H.E.R. on “Gut Feeling” and R&B royalty John Legend on “Everything.” And she makes stepping into pop stardom look effortless. “Luckily,” she told Beats 1, “everything\'s gone to plan so far.”

6.6 / 10

The perfectly fine debut from the London R&B singer offers a grip of retro, snappy jams without sounding like a pastiche.

After Ella Mai's overnight success with 'Boo'd Up', the DJ Mustard protégé's self-titled debut proves she’s more than worth the hype

Ella Mai hunts for the follow-up to her breakout hit 'Boo'd Up' on her debut album, 'Ella Mai.'

7 / 10

It's always tricky when an emerging artist drops a full-length album after a big hit single. After the platinum-selling success of "Boo'd Up...

7 / 10

Ella Mai made history, earlier this year, as she became the first female UK artist to top the US R&B charts in 26 years with her single

(Universal)

7 / 10

Authenticity is one of those unquantifiable traits that many artists search and search for, but never quite find.

The Londoner’s debut is best when full-blooded and fiery, with honeyed vocals and candid lyrics