Each Measure Feature: Tamara Jenna

FEATURE

Following a pair of powerful releases featuring high-profile rap artists like Lil Wayne and Gucci Mane, Tamara Jenna still isn’t done. Her latest single, “Both My Wrists,” which was released on August 8th, is the latest installment in her already impressive catalogue. This time, she’s joined by Wiz Khalifa, and like her previous releases, it’s another match made in Heaven.

In a way, “Both My Wrists” represents the best of both British and American club music. Tamara Jenna hails from Balsall Heath, Birmingham and brings diverse background in R&B, hip-hop, and grime music. Wiz Khalifa is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and his individualistic, pop-influenced approach to the rap genre has made him a legend for two decades. The result of their collaboration: an elegant blending of international genres that complement each other beautifully.

The colorful but gritty electronic texture of “Both My Wrists” comes straight from the UK grime scene, and both artists match each other’s energy, delivering bar after bar with impressive flow. “Both My Wrists” is a rare track that grabs the listener from the very first note with an ethereal orchestral loop. It’s that feature, along with other subtle lo-fi elements, that give “Both My Wrists” the eerie, dreamlike qualities that make it such a stand-out track.

Wiz Khalifa opens with his trademark nonchalant style of rap. “Froze my wrist, both of them / Thought I bought it out, but I got more to spend,” he boasts as the song segues into its memorable chorus. Underscored by Tamara Jenna’s eerie soundscape, his voice becomes almost hypnotic as the song continues.

Tamara Jenna mirrors him perfectly with her own verse, delivered in a melodic half-whisper. She takes the iconic “both my wrists” line and puts into a new context. In her own take on the chorus, she sings “Both my wrists, both my wrists / I’ll be payin’ double time for both my wrists,” reminding us that she’s just as badass as Wiz Khalifa in her own way.

Tamara Jenna is an artist that deserves more listens. She’s already had viral hits on Instagram, and “Both My Wrists” has plenty of potential to be the next one. In my opinion, the true genius of the song lies in its subtlety. There’s nothing extravagant or overdone about it. Wiz Khalifa and Tamara Jenna don’t sound overly impressed by their own braggadocio. For them, this is just another day, and if that’s not the epitome of cool, I don’t know what is.

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