BKTHERULA – N5ON (Album Review)

BKTHERULA successfully experiments with a different sound on “N5ON.”

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TOP 5 SONGS

Honorable Mention. PUSH PULL METHOD

Interesting. BKTHERULA says she met someone she thought would marry her, only for that person to cheat on her with a man. I’m not entirely sure which sex she’s addressing, but either way, the wedding plans have clearly gone to s**t.

Despite those sad-ass lyrics about being left at the altar, the production is exhilarating. BK matches it with an energetic vocal performance, sounding hurt but fully capable of dancing through the disappointment. Very, very interesting. Also, very, very fun.

5. BIG FEELING (N5ON MIX)

I really f**k with “BIG FEELING (N5ON MIX).” It features restless, dreamy production, a soft, vulnerable performance from BKTHERULA, with a melody to die for, and unapologetic lyrics that just wrap everything together perfectly. It’s just the definition of reaching towards your dreams as a musician and landing at the moon.

4. DRUNK

Is it crazy to say this is one of BKTHERULA’s best vocal performances ever? The range, the command, and the way she navigates production that constantly shifts in tone, energy, and sound are impressive as hell. Lyrically, there isn’t much to unpack on the surface; she keeps saying she wants to get drunk with someone special. Still, her delivery makes me feel like something deeper is happening psychologically. Or maybe she just wants to get plastered, and I need to stop diagnosing the function.

3. LOST IN A RAVE

Here’s my advice: take this song’s title literally and get lost in it. The production feels like a maze, with synths flying at you from every direction and a tempo that keeps things exciting. BKTHERULA sounds dazed throughout, but there’s something strangely captivating about it. It almost feels like you’re helping her find her way home after a very long night. Unfortunately, neither of you knows where the f**k you parked.

2. 2002

What the hell is happening on “2002”? I hear island elements, some house, and these laser-beam moments that make it feel like you’re trapped in a real-life game of Asteroids, dodging s**t for survival. Beneath all that chaos, though, BKTHERULA delivers an outstanding vocal performance. It’s melodic, hypnotic, and has a groove that holds everything together. Her vocals might be the best reason to press play. Definitely one of the album’s catchier moments.

1. I GO PUNK

Getting your ass kicked to “I GO PUNK” almost sounds like a privilege. The production hits like it broke every piece of equipment it passed through, delivering punch after punch. Thankfully, the soft, ridiculously catchy chorus gives you a moment to recover before things get violent again. BKTHERULA really found a way to whip our asses and have us humming along.

SONG BY SONG RATING

I GO PUNK (Ft. Whethan) (4.5/5)

ACTIVATED (Ft. Juicy J) (3.5/5)

OH YAY (4/5)

ADDICTED2U (Ft. underscores) (3.5/5)

2002 (4/5)

2WICE (3/5)

LOST IN A RAVE (4/5)

AFTERZ (3.5/5)

DRUNK (4/5)

WAV (3.5/5)

PUSH PULL METHOD (4/5)

JEVITAS (Ft. Yen Diezel) (4/5)

BIG FEELING (N5ON MIX) (4/5)

ALISHA (4/5)

RGM RATING

I love me some BKTHERULA. She’s rebellious, can rap her ass off when she wants to, and has no problem stepping outside the box. On N5ON, she gets so far away from that box that somebody needs to put an AirTag on it.

The production is the biggest selling point. Much of this album runs on club-ready house and electronic instrumentation, but there’s plenty happening beneath the flashing lights. You get punchy drums, distorted textures, dreamy synths, and moments of genuine beauty tucked between beats that sound ready to beat your ass. Some tracks feel glamorous; others feel like the DJ booth caught fire and everybody decided to keep dancing.

What makes it work is BK’s understanding of those backdrops. She knows when to take command, when to float, and when to let the production do the heavy lifting. Her vocals are a major highlight, moving between soft vulnerability, hypnotic melodies, and energetic performances without losing her swagger. Occasionally, I wish she gave us more before a track ended, but she makes several of these hooks count.

Lyrically, don’t come looking for a syllabus. There’s attraction, partying, heartbreak, and a whole lot of living for whatever feels good right now. Still, the hurt sneaks through, and hearing her dance through disappointment gives the album more feeling than its party-first approach might suggest.

Whethan, Juicy J, underscores, and ¥en Diezel contribute without taking the spotlight away from BK. This remains her playground.

Overall, N5ON is a fun, adventurous switch-up that suits her personality. I especially love hearing a Black woman bring this much swagger to this space. BK sounds comfortable taking risks, and the best moments make you want to follow her wherever the hell she’s headed next.

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