Listen to “Sum Bout U” [ft. FKA twigs] by 645AR
FKA twigs and 645AR seem to have little in common. The former is a borderline pop star and the latter is a Bronx-born rapper who made his name in the Atlanta underground scene. Yet, if you listen to their voices, a resemblance becomes clear. The first thing you notice on twigs’ 2019 instant classic Magdalene is her unique soprano, and, until 645AR came around, I used to think it was nearly impossible for vocals to be any higher. His tracks sound like the Chipmunks featuring on underground Atlanta rap beats, which has led to understandable jokes over the past six months. Nevertheless, on “Sum Bout U,” 645AR has the last laugh.
On the collaborative single, the highbrow and lowbrow versions of similar styles join forces for an unhinged duet. Twigs sounds angelic and sweet, while 645AR’s melody is bizarre, but somehow kind of gentle, too. Their back-and-forth is as heartfelt as Usher and Alicia Keys on the “My Boo” hook, while their voices are so far off the scale that they’re better described as mouse-like squeaks. But they’re certainly the most romantic squeaks you’ll come across, and the SenseiATL production—reminiscent of the colorful ’90s R&B influenced beats currently used by SoundCloud staples like Summrs and Autumn!—elevates the lovestruck mood. It’s the summer love song we probably didn’t need, but we’re lucky to have anyway.