Sensual Soul: An Underrated Album Review 

A jazz-heavy start with a bassy undertone in the second song “Dang!” featured by Anderson .Paak. Paak's chorus is about losing the people around him, yet Mac is pleading the opposite, pulling them back in. “Can’t keep losing you” it’s a back-and-forth battle of trying to get to know someone early on.   

 

“Stay” offers more of Mac’s pleading, it turns into him questioning why he is going to these lengths for this woman. He talks about how astonishing this woman is, but she is worth all the trouble she is giving him. This seems to burden him and getting it out into the open is his way of releasing those thoughts and feelings.    

 

The next track starts off with a woman moaning and reaching some kind of Climax. Mac’s way with words in this song makes it flow like a river on a hot summer day. He describes sexual activities without diminishing the woman, he wants to express his love for the divine woman of his dreams.   

 

These first four songs really set the tone for the entire album, focusing on relationships and when people are their most vulnerable. The soft tones and light strings make it so much more intimate and sensual.   

 

“Cinderella” is eight minutes long and features Ty Dolla $ign. He calls this woman an angel and makes sure she knows that by how he treats her. Around the five-minute mark, the tone of this song changes and Mac switches it up by making it recitative, speech-like singing.   More than halfway through “The Divine Feminine” track six featuring Njomza instantly has a more rap-based vibe. Heavier beats compared to the first song on the album but still sticks with the hard-hitting lyrics written by Mac himself. His work has always been known for being honest and impactful, Mac has been open about his drug use but has been able to use his platform to share his stories, “Self Care” on his last album before he passed is an exemplar of this.  

 

 “Soulmate” starts off with a hefty quote from the classic film “Good Will Hunting”. This track is a big question to the “Feminine”. Mac is asking “Are you happy with your life” he is just wanting to make her life better no matter how much pain he is in, showing his selflessness   CeeLo Green pairs up with Mac on this next one. Guitars linger in the background with a drum set. Mac is inching towards calling this woman his girlfriend but stops every time he goes to say it. “I say we sound better than you or me”. Feminine backing vocals come through the speakers picking up that ethereal ambience.  

 

 

Mac’s girlfriend at the time Ariana Grande sings the song “My Favourite Part” together. High snare claps make the beat, with strings ranging from bass to acoustic. Ariana's vocals lay perfectly on top of the lyrics, it makes it feel more sensual and less performative.  This is my favourite track on the album. Mac and Ariana flow seamlessly when they sing together like they were made to sing as a duo.   

 

Last but not least “God Is Fair, Sexy Nasty” joined by Kendrick Lamar is eight whole minutes long. As the ending track it never loses those sexual references which have been prominent since track one. Heavier than most, the beat is simple but keeps to the jazzy exterior that has fluctuated in and out of the musical masterpiece. The woman who shares a lengthy dialogue is actually Mac’s grandmother talking about her love for her husband and that ties off the entire 53-minute serenade.   

 

“The Divine Feminine” is one of the best hip-hop albums to date, with the jazz interferences and sexual connotations it shows us what music is really about. How rules can be bent to create something so remarkable and influential. Mac Miller really showed us what he is capable of in this album and we will never take him for granted.