What makes Honestly by Lalah Hathaway notable?

Honestly received critical acclaim for its exploration of love and vulnerability, earning accolades and further establishing Hathaway's reputation in the music industry. The album was recognized by various publications for its musicality and emotional depth, contributing to its success in the jazz and soul genres. Released on January 1, 2017, Honestly is Lalah Hathaway's first album since her Grammy-winning release, where she solidified her presence in contemporary R&B. This album marks a return to her roots, showcasing her growth as an artist while maintaining her signature sound that melds jazz sophistication with soulful expression.

How many songs are on Honestly?

Honestly has 9 tracks, running approximately 28 minutes.

Honestly

Lalah Hathaway · 2017

28 min · 9 tracks · jazz

A warm blend of jazz and soul, featuring intimate vocals layered over lush instrumentation and smooth grooves.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Honestly — The title track opens the album with a heartfelt declaration, setting the tone for the themes of authenticity and introspection that follow.
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Don’t Give Up — This track showcases Hathaway's vocal prowess as it intertwines a message of resilience with rich harmonies and a catchy melody.
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Change Ya Life — With its upbeat tempo and infectious groove, this song captures the transformative power of love, highlighting Hathaway's ability to blend emotion with rhythm.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

59 /100

Treeline

Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong songwriting and production, with effective pacing but lacks broad cultural reach.

What we noticed

The album opens with a title track that features layered vocal harmonies and a slow groove, setting a reflective tone.
Several tracks incorporate call-and-response elements between Hathaway's vocals and the instrumentation, creating an interactive feel.
The last three tracks feature a gradual increase in tempo and energy, culminating in a more upbeat finale.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Honestly 2:41
2 Don’t Give Up 3:30
3 Change Ya Life 2:58
4 What U Need 3:30
5 Call On Me 3:44
6 Won’t Let It Go 3:37
7 Storm 1:06
8 Y O Y 3:49
9 I Can’t Wait 3:49

What to play next

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Go back to

Lalah Hathaway Live

2015

Full Lalah Hathaway discography Artists like Lalah Hathaway

jazz soul

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata