Summer Walker’s Still Over It, which debuted in November, is a work of radical honesty. With her sweet, dark, hypnotic tone, Walker invites fans into her world, showcasing how it feels when happily ever after never happens. Throughout the 20-track album, she opens herself up to the public, walking us through her heartbreak—from sadness to anger to relief in her newfound freedom. And in what might be the most vulnerable move of all, she allows the man who broke her heart his own place within the music: He’s the producer for half the songs.
Using heart-wrenching and melodic lyrics, Walker stands out in the sea of “trap” R&B, a modern take on blues relying heavily on nostalgia, where male artists—like Drake or The Weeknd—have been at the forefront. Unlike her male competitors who boast about their heartbreaks with a misogynistic edge, she flips the narrative, demonstrating how young Black women navigate love and relationships in the social media age.
Still Over It is a story about how the pursuit of love can often be a losing game, told by a Black woman who’s experienced the pain of living in a racist society filled with misogynoir. As music and culture journalist DeAsia Paige, puts it, “Summer Walker’s vulnerability throughout Still Over It validates that pain. By highlighting her experiences, [she] offers some Black women the rare opportunity to see themselves, and that brand of storytelling is what’s making the 25-year-old singer a rising leader in contemporary R&B.”
Walker burst onto the scene back in 2018 with her mixtape, Last Day of Summer. The Atlanta native’s second album—instantly beloved by fans upon its release—is the full embodiment of “hell has no fury like a woman scorned.” Tapping into the energy of reality television shows such as Love & Hip Hop and the Real Housewives franchise, Walker charts through the journey of her split with her former boyfriend and the father of her child, popular Atlanta producer London on da Track. The former couple memorably teamed up for her last project, her 2019 smash-hit debut Over It.
London on da Track not only contributes to half of this new album as a producer; he’s Walker’s muse and the source of her anguish and heartbreak. When she delivers lines like, “How could you make me spend my whole fucking pregnancy alone?” she’s talking directly to him, and the drama is both deeply intimate and fully public.
“You don’t have to guess if something is love. Love is shown through actions,” Walker wrote in a message to Apple Music about the project. “Stop making excuses for people who don’t show up for you. Don’t ignore the red flags. And don’t think you have to stay somewhere ’cause you can’t find better—you can, and you will. Don’t settle for less—you don’t deserve it, and neither does your family.”
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Her public and very tumultuous narrative won over her growing fan base. Each song builds on the last, detailing the stages of grief that come from heartbreak. In the album’s opening track, “Bitter,” Walker directly addresses the public interest in her relationship with London and talks about her spats with the other women in London’s life via social media (“So why you puttin’ on for the Shade Room and Insta?” she sings). The song ends with a voicemail from Cardi B, advising Walker to “Put that drama in your music.”
The track hit a nerve with fans, because it talks about something we can all relate to: loss. Whether it be the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, the end of a relationship, loss is universal. It can be an overwhelming feeling, and for most of us, denial and anger are the first two pit stops.
Some of the best moments on Still Over It are tracks like “Unloyal,” arguably one of the strongest R&B singles of the year, during which Walker and Ari Lennox combine soulfulness and rage, highlighting the emotional hoops women jump through for love. Women, particularly Black women, are often expected to give everything of themselves in the name of love, and sometimes, we lose.
On the last song, “Ciara’s Prayer,” the singer finally reaches a place of acceptance. The title refers to the prayer Ciara famously used to pull her husband, NFL player Russell Wilson, which went viral when she finally revealed it after years of fans asking. As a fan pointed out on social media, the singer’s prayer was not just about finding a man to love, but also a call to women to remember their worth. It’s evident that Walker wants fans to take note of her mistakes and avoid settling for less. Inspiring yet relatable, the track works as a culmination to the album, bringing together all Walker’s feelings, and fans immediately connected to it.
“Still Over It is a masterful soundtrack to Summer Walker’s life, but it’s also a narrative that so many women live, breathe, and experience,” music and cultural journalist Wanna Thompson says. Walker puts her emotions on display, Thompson says, and she doesn’t apologize for her delivery. “This album holds up a mirror to Black women who can relate to Walker’s ballads and anthems that detail the inner workings of going through it, but also, surviving it all.”
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The best breakup tracks can offer haunting reminders of the anger and disbelief that can stem from lost love. Robyn Mowatt, a staff writer at Okayplayer, agrees that the album provides a way for Black women to reflect on their own emotional experiences. “Walker’s lyrical content on this release allows Black women the autonomy to stand in harsh feelings whilst standing in their femininity—which isn’t a small feat,” Mowatt says.
Both music journalists also highlight how Walker’s lived experiences paint an intimate picture in the same vein as R&B singers of another era, including Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, and Keyshia Cole.
I can relate to all of this. This album reflects so many of the same sentiments I’ve felt from dealing with the bumps and bruises that go along with dating. It has allowed me to revisit my pain and agony, but, on the other hand, provided playlist-worthy tracks to help me get through it, whether I have a man or not. Walker is a gifted storyteller, and on Still Over It, it’s at her most vulnerable state where she finds strength, singing for herself while echoing the pain of other women who have been wronged.
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Ladies and Gentlemen, We Have a New Queen of Heartbreak
Source: Filipino Journal Articles
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