The final chapter of Leikeli47's "Beauty Series" trilogy, Shape Up finds the Brooklyn rapper fully owning all the aspects of her music. She builds on the hooks and clever productions she introduced on 2017's Wash Set, the more ambitious storytelling of 2018's Acrylic, and, true to her third album's title, tightens up her sound. At once leaner and heavier than any of her previous music, Shape Up uses minimalism to maximum impact. Leikeli tears into the album with "Chitty Bang," one of her hardest-hitting tracks. Driven by a glowering sub-bass that complements her snarled bars ("I'm taking victory laps") perfectly before segueing into a slinky piano coda, it embodies the confidence that the Beauty Series is all about. "New Money" is another standout, with a lunging beat that punctuates statements of intent like "attitude on f*ck it" and "I think it's time we edit out your scene." Leikeli47 sounds just as formidable on "BITM," declaring "I wear Nikes with my gowns just in case hoes need a lesson" in a near whisper over a taut house beat and burbling electronics. While she downplays the pop elements that gave Wash Set and Acrylic an extra sparkle, she's never been as quotable as she is on Shape Up. On "Carry Anne," she underscores the message of sexual and financial freedom with a mix of tight-jawed menace and dry humor ("the only safe place is my safe"). Similarly, on "Get the Riches," she slips in some clever insults ("bitch, you borin'/melatonin") without detracting from the track's hypnotic tension. As tough as she often sounds on Shape Up, Leikeli47 reflects the album's theme of growing strength with her growing vulnerability. She even reveals her real name -- but bleeps it out -- on the flirty "LLCoolJ," and lets a brand-new ex have all her rage and sorrow on "Free to Love." Shape Up is also some of her most sensual music, and while the record's R&B flourishes are a little surprising, how well they're done isn't. It's a joy to hear her sing on "Done Right," a sweet, spacious ballad that could stop the album's momentum in its tracks but only raises expectations. Likewise, "Baseball" exudes an easygoing, almost cozy sensuality that makes it the sexiest song about America's national pastime. Most impressively, Leikeli sounds just as comfortable letting down her guard completely on "Hold My Hand" as she does developing a killer strut with Miss J. Alexander on the pounding ballroom homage "Jay Walk." As she closes the book on the Beauty Series with Shape Up, Leikeli47 sounds stylishly strong -- and leaves everyone else to catch up to her. ~ Heather Phares, Rovi

1		Chitty Bang
2		Secret Service
3		New Money
4		LL Cool J
5		Zoom
6		Done Right
7		Free to Love
8		BITM
9		Baseball
10		Carry Anne
11		Jay Walk
12		Hold My Hand
13		Get the Riches
14		Instant Classic

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