We see you, Halle! For a moment, it seemed that the singer-songwriter best known as half of sister duo Chloe x Halle would be trading in her microphone for the big screen after landing several high-profile roles. Then she stepped onto the scene last year with her singles “Angel” (which was subsequently nominated for a GRAMMY) and “In Your Hands.” Now she’s turning up the heat with the release of her latest song, “Because I Love You.”
Where “Angel” and “In Your Hands” were sweeping ballads, “Because I Love You” is a bit grittier. That's thanks in part to a hard-hitting beat provided by producer Dem Jointz, who mixes knocking drums and synth with keys to add some fire to the proceedings. It”s Halle, however, who brings the fire.
Her lyrics tell the tale of a woman who might be a little tipsy and is letting the alcohol do the talking. The first verse finds her getting handsy and acting up after getting lit at a birthday party. The second verse shows that her antics have made it so they have to call it a night much earlier than planned. However, she makes it a point to demonstrate that, though she might be out of pocket, her man still holds her down. His willingness has her giving him nothing but love, with her singing on the chorus, “All because I love you, babe / Love you, babe, love you, babe / I love you, babe / Love you, babe / I motherf**king love you, babe.”
The video takes a different approach. It opens with a smitten Halle making eyes at herself in the mirror as multiple reflections of her are seen. Things then shift to her and her guy (played by actor RJ Cyler). As Halle and RJ sit in a club, a seductive woman dancing on stage catches his eye. That other woman just so happens to be Halle as well, which adds insult to injury when he starts creeping with her. Halle doesn’t let this happen, though, as she follows and then eventually confronts him by hopping on the hood of his car. This prompts a legion of Halles to come out from the shadows as all of them, including the initial doppelganger, to stare at him obsessively before the clip fades to black.
Halle is definitely gearing up for a fruitful solo career, and “Because I Love You” demonstrates she has more than just ballads in her arsenal. Here’s looking forward to what else is to come. Check out the latest from the young talent when you stream “Because I Love You” and watch its video below.
