New jack swing fans, meet your new favorite mixtape.
While the world waits to see if Boston’s New Edition will be included in this year’s of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, Haasan Barclay and ET have cooked up Bell Biv Barclay, a mixtape the pair describes as a “a love letter to new jack swing.”
The title of the seven-track project is a riff on Bell Biv DeVoe, the “Poison”-slinging subunit of New Edition who were pivotal figures in the new jack swing movement. But per ET, the Brockton emcee and member of Van Buren Records, Bell Biv Barclay was inspired by that entire era of Boston greats: “New Edition, Bobby Brown, Bell Biv DeVoe, and more.” Samples of “Poison” peek through “EVEN,” and mixtape closer “PINK & BLU” features cameos from Cambridge-born R&B artist Miranda Rae and additional Van Buren member Jiles (who seemingly sneaks in an impressively obscene reference to a Kim Possible character).
All of this to say: Whether you’re well-versed on Mass music of today or the state’s best throwbacks, Bell Biv Barclay is a treat.
“I was biking through the city today and had the most beautiful view of the Hancock building hit my eye while ‘EVEN’ played, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt more proud to be a Black Bostonian than now,” Barclay tells Vanyaland. “I hope everyone who hears this project can get even a fraction of that feeling.”
Tune in below.