“Tenfold is when you lose things, and then you get it back, tenfold.”
For Yaya Bey, life’s tug-of-war takes center stage in her music.
Two years after her breakout Remember Your North Star, Bey’s back with Tenfold, an album that cements her status as one of R&B’s brightest talents.
Now a full-time musician, Bey reflects on the grind:“If I didn’t have to pay bills, I wouldn’t work so hard,” she admits, recalling her years teaching art in New York’s homeless shelter system. But every battle has been worth it.
Tenfold is an expansive, genre-blending collection, weaving together smooth neo-soul with jazz, dancehall, hip hop, afrobeat, and reggae. It’s laid-back but assertive, filled with dance-floor-friendly hooks and poignant spoken word. Moments of humour and social commentary shine through her razor-sharp lyricism, like on the soulful opener:“I got all this money but I’m still fucking broke.”
Fresh off her Tiny Desk debut, Bey’s Tenfold is a testament to her evolution and artistry.
Before its release, Bey shared on Instagram: “I made this album in the midst of great loss.When life required me to redefine myself for myself. The only way I could do that was to live. To lean on everything I am and be present in every moment. The joy, the grief, the rage and curiosity the adventure of it all. I allowed life to be exactly what it is… complicated and nuanced. I surrendered. This music is a recording of the year I lost the things I thought I could not live without and the proof that I did indeed survive… and thrive.”
Reflecting on the album with Rolling Stone AU/NZ, Bey said: “I usually go into albums with a theme but my life was transforming in such radical ways that I just channelled that all into the music. When I sit down to write songs, it’s like a therapy session. Sometimes you don’t go in wanting to talk about specific things but things just come up. I’m letting it flow out of me, and whatever comes out, comes out.”
For Bey, making music is a lifeline. “Making music is self-soothing; it’s second nature for me. But it’s the pushing beyond the music-making that takes the strength for me. It takes strength to get out of bed everyday when your life is turned upside down. By the time I’ve made the music, I’ve begun to process the difficult emotions.
She adds: “Like, that’s everybody, you know… that’s the human process, artists are only artists because they’re humans and processing difficult emotions every day. I’m just documenting mine in a way that people can relate to, I guess” she reflects.
Credit: Nikita Freyermuth
Yaya Bey’s Tenfold is more than just a collection of songs—it’s a reflection of her roots, especially her deep connection with her father, Ayub Bey, aka Grand Daddy I.U., a key figure in the Juice Crew. Growing up under his influence, Bey spent her youth crafting beats and writing hooks, absorbing the wisdom that now permeates her music. After his passing in December 2022, Bey made sure to honor his legacy in Tenfold, weaving his voice and teachings throughout the album.
In tracks like “East Coast Mami,” you’ll hear his voice reminding her to “present yourself to the world like you’ve been somewhere.” Yet his impact goes beyond just these moments. “He’s my dad. He’s present in everything,” she shares. “He shows up in my work, in my sense of humour, my morals and principles, in some of my swagger and confidence. He raised me, he taught me everything, he moulded me.”
This sentiment of self-evolution runs through the album, especially in the commanding lead track, “Sir Princess Bad Bitch,” where Bey unapologetically declares, “no other thing but the thing I am.” It’s a bold affirmation of self-worth, something Bey has leaned on throughout her life.
“I’ve had times in my life where I relied on daily affirmations. It’s not something I do everyday now, but sometimes certain music serves the purpose for me,” she explains. “You know, when I listen to other people’s music as a fan, the lyrics feel like affirmations. Like, with a lot of Frankie Beverly & Maze songs, they’re just repetitive affirmations. So I thought, why not incorporate that into the album. Because I need it.”
As acclaim for Ten Fold mounts, highlighted by its inclusion on Pitchfork‘s list of 8 New Albums You Should Listen to Now and a four-star review by The Guardian, Bey remains grounded. She hopes listeners discover their own truths in her music.
“I make music, and I hope people like the album, and I kind of leave it at that. It’s not that I don’t care what people get from it because that’s not true. I guess I just feel like it’s not my business,” she reflects. “Once it’s out in the world, it’s not mine anymore. Each of us holds our own truths about music, and that’s what makes it beautiful.”
Bey’s take on personal truth shows that identity can change, and accepting yourself is key. As she puts it, “Every version of myself is gonna have its own truth. And that’s enough.”
Yaya Bey’s Ten Fold is out now via Big Dada.
