Cupcakke is back with a new album – The Bakkery. David Ho reviews the raunchy rapper’s latest studio album
Very few artists can ever become viral multiple times. Let alone sustain that buzz for years, then have it organically develop into a sub-genre of its own.
Best known for her hypersexual, hilarious, and hot viral hits, Cupcakke is the name of Elizabeth Eden Harris’ rap persona. With demure titles like “Vagina” and “Deepthroat”, the Chicago rapper’s songs are still finding new life. This is largely thanks to the Cupcakke Remixes movement that mashes her explicit acapella over popular songs. It’s often accompanied by soundbites from other internet meme personalities, like Jiafei and Shenseea. The Floptok crowd have adopted and expanded this into the larger imaginary nation of Floptropica, an extended universe of sorts for this niche humour.
Cupcakke takes aggressive female sexuality, like Khia and Lil’ Kim, and combines it with her own nimble swagger and witty punchlines. Dive further into her discography though, you will find an artist capable of great versatility in her work beyond shock value. Over the years, Cupcakke has also weaved heavier subjects – like racism, poverty, abuse, body image, politics, and more – into her musical tapestry, proving that she can serve substance and style.
The Bakkery review
Now back with her sixth studio album, The Bakkery is the 28-year-old’s most ambitious project to date. Things kicks off with “The Silverback Wife”, the most classic hip-hop track on this record. After playing a grandma in the opening skit, Cupcakke demands respect and tackles colourism with a fierce flow over a sparse beat and violin.
“One Of My Bedbugs Ate My Pussy” is the lead single from and perhaps best encapsulates the spirit of the record. Cupcakke uses her impressive ability to combine filthy fun and pop culture references into genius WTF moments. “Bedbugs…” combines Hawk Tuah, Lady Gaga, and the Itsy Bitsy Spider into what sounds like a sex club rave. The song is meme culture in sonic form, and we mean that in the best way possible.
While “Bedbugs…” makes for the (dauntless) manifesto of racy rap, there are other tracks that are stronger highlights on this album. “Ballerina Coupe” sees Cupcakke spitting rapid fire over a brag track that Kris Kross or Freestyle would be happy to call their own. She doesn’t let up on the speed, dialling into full hyper pop mode on “UFO”. This frenetic slice of techno pop recalls Charli XCX and Sophie, while likening copulation to being sucked up by a flying saucer. The live performances are bound to be lit, like when she got the Lollapalooza crowd to moan with her.
Even for long-time fans, The Bakkery and its influences contain many surprises. “Alcoholic” is a one that is fast becoming a fan favourite. We hear Cupcakke sing (!) about a Cardi B-esque plan to rob drunk dudes over icy synths and a flinty club beat that Heidi Montag would have paid millions for. This club-pop bop fits right in with the songs downloaded via blogs with a MediaFire link in the late Y2K.
Cupcakke also channels her contemporaries, like Doja Cat, on “Akeelah” and “Sloppy Joe”. But of course, she turns it into her trademark R18+ with punchlines like “20 pubic hairs might make me a lash”. Cupcakke also gets vulnerable on “Rubik’s Cube” that contains a home run bar slamming performative activism. “Free Congo, free Palestine, media treat this shit like Valentines. They’ll post one day just to show some love. And then the next day silence all the crimes”.
One of the very few criticisms for this record is how Cupcakke leans on nursery rhymes and schoolyard chants just a little too often. While it was cute and fitting to use “Itsy Bitsy Spider” for the bridge on “Bedbugs…”, she pulls the “Roses are Red” schtick twice on this album. It’s been done before and better on her older material, like “Squidward Nose”.
Meanwhile, “Snowman” is pretty much a “This Old Man” nursery rhyme cover, but for adults. For an artist so imaginative with her bars and soundscapes, we are sure Cupcakke can give us more. But still, she remains leagues above the likes of Taylor Swift and her basic wood metaphor when it comes to creative dirty talk.
The songs are also a tad on the short side. Most of the 16 tracks clock in below three minutes, and some even below two. There’s no denying that TikTok has influenced music length, and much of Cupcakke’s fanbase found her on social media. But it be nice to have extended versions of some songs to appreciate her talents in fuller form.
The Bakkery sounds like a mixtape or playlist that a perpetually online millennial would curate, held together by the glue of Cupcakke’s lyricism and delivery. While the rapper has always been musically adventurous, the 16-track opus is easily her most varied album to date.
This album is clearly primed to create a whole universe of memes and keep her loyal legion of fans (aka slurpers) entertained. She knows her audience and gives them all they want, while showing them just enough fresh tricks to keep them coming back to her bakkery.
Stream The Bakkery by Cupcakke on Spotify here.
Photo: Instagram @cupcakkeafreakk
Verdict: The Bakkery is filled with all the piping hot goodies you know Cupcakke for and more. She’s fierce, free and flowing with creativity and quips.
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