Photo Courtesy of Billboard

After nearly a year without a new EP, rapper Qveen Herby finally released “The Muse” on Tuesday, Feb. 14. She and her husband announced the project on their podcast “House of Herby” earlier this month. After listening, it is safe to say that the Qveen is here to stay and slay the day away.

The opening track “Thank Goddess” channels the energy Qveen Herby has always been known for. It’s a song that embraces taking ownership of your life. 

The first lyrics in the pre-chorus, “Bitch, after all, who says we can’t have it all? I have the ball, every day, I make the call,” reiterates that you are the one in control of your life. The ball is in your court and not anyone else’s.

“Thank Goddess” is the song you play when getting ready for a girl’s night out or when you just need a good hype song. 

Qveen goes back to her soulful R&B roots with the track “Chucky Cheese.” The song sounds as if it is inspired by her earlier song “Sade in the 90s.” Unlike its presumed inspiration, “Chucky Cheese” is all about healing and self-love, two topics she has been trying to advocate for on all of her platforms. This is the perfect song to play when you are by yourself in the car, listening at full volume with the windows down. 

Singles “5D” and “Dress Code” clearly belong on the EP, but leaving them for the end was a mistake. “The Muse” would have sounded 10 times better if they were placed in the middle, between “Marie Antionette” and “Nah.” 

The best song has to be “Marie Antionette” as it is all about starting a new chapter. Qveen Herby is trying to get her fans to understand that they should not care about what others think. All they should care about is being the bigger person. It is the perfect combination of R&B and rap, something Qveen Herby has perfected numerous times. This is the song you play when you are ready to turn over a new leaf. 

Another song worth a listen is the first single, “5D.” The song is reminiscent of early Eminem and Missy Elliot with the delivery of the lyrics. Plus, the music video is filled with colorful imagery and amazing fashion. If you miss the early 2000s, this is the song for you. 

There are not any bad songs, but “Just Found Out” seems out of place. It is all about realizing that relationships where you are not the other’s first priority are not worth pursuing. The heavy beats of the song do not seem to fit with the rest of the tracks on the EP. However, it is still a good song. The lyrics, “Just found out / I’m the baddest bitch,” prove this. 

Fans who loved Qveen Herby when she was in Karmin or from her earlier EPs will enjoy “The Muse.” If you have recently come across Qveen Herby on TikTok or Instagram, “The Muse” offers a great introduction to her spunky persona. It does not disappoint. You are bound to find a new favorite song after listening to it a couple of times. 

Hopefully her album “The Muse” will not be the only music Qveen Herby releases in 2023. She hinted on her podcast that there would be more to come, with the possibility of a tour. “The Muse” can be streamed on all digital music platforms.