By Kennedy Cook

If Pink Sweat$’s mid-June release of Not Alright wasn’t already too much heat, his newest EP The Prelude is sure to make listeners exude bliss. Philadelphia born singer brings his own flavor and influence to The Prelude which is his third EP. Sweat$ made his EP debut in 2018 with “Volume 1,” which reached two million streams on Spotify in less than eight weeks, and currently has more than 35 million plays on YouTube. Since then, Pink Sweat$ has hopped in his rosy automobile, all gas, no breaks. Sequel EP “Volume 2” paved his voice and style, instilling “Pink Sweats” on the charts, and in our hearts. And now, just two short years after his debut, we have the latest, most polished EP to date. Sweat$’s, whose name comes from his apparent favorite attire to wear while in the recording studio, latest work takes us on a guided tour of his journey to eminence. Listeners are invited to join Sweat$ as he cruises through his six-track EP with detours down the road that allowed him to be here now, while also routing the treks of his future. This voyage serves as an overture before the masque that Pink Sweat$’s debut full-length album is believed to be.

It’s obvious from the opening moments of The Prelude that it is more than enough to keep the lovers of his nominal and soulful R&B exultant while they’re waiting for that release. Opening track “Give It To Me” is a sensual melody that strikes listeners (and lovers alike) from the moment the play button is pressed. Singles “Icy” and “17” both share prevailing bass lines, all while challenging one another in their overall tone. Of the two, “Icy'' provides an upbeat and pop-centric touch, while “17” is the more insightful track, where listeners get to soak in Sweat$’s rich vocals. “Not Alright” synthesizes the longstanding worldly inequities caused by racism through a stylized and polytonal beat. “Lows” and “At My Worst” strictly highlight Sweat$’s lyrical aptitude, as we see his vulnerability combined with dulcet and moving lyrics.

If we were to count the amount of artists who chose to tease their upcoming debut album with such a fully developed assembly of songs, we wouldn’t get very far. The Prelude precedes highly anticipated debut album Pink Planet, and gifts us with a groovy and soulful track list that is sure to keep listers bumping while we wait for Sweat$’s next release.