Elijah Blake - THE NEON EON (2021)

Since the summer release of his tranquil Trinidad James collaboration “Dreams,” Elijah Blake had us all anxious for his new album The Neon Eon. With the song starting to bubble on R&B radio in select markets, the brilliant singer/songwriter has issued his first full-length album in four years.

The 10-track set was co-executive produced by Killah B and features his Keyshia Cole-guested remix of “Bad Liar,” a song he told Rated R&B in September that almost didn’t make the tracklist.

Collaborating with other artists is something that Blake shied away from because of the politics, along with the fear of them failing to consider the song’s message. “It shows me you’re not paying attention, or you don’t respect my craft,” he explained to Rated R&B.

On The Neon Eon, Blake embraces collaboration, teaming up with some new and familiar faces like Muni Long, Durand Bernarr, D Smoke, Boppai, Rome Flynn, and Tamar Braxton, who appears on the LP highlight, “Time and Space.”

Going against what corrupt media and society have normalized as Black men’s role is Blake’s goal with his new album. “I want to perpetuate freedom of thought so that these gender norms are broken down, and Black men are free to fully express themselves and be their best selves moving forward,” he affirms.