( ENSPIRE Entertainment ) Listen to Singer Inayah’s Powerful Anti-Love Anthem
ENSPIRE Contributor: Grace Chai
When you think of love, you might picture sweet letters and roses. But what if the feeling of butterflies in your stomach wears off, and you’re angry when you see that not-so-special someone? If that describes your situation this year, I have a song for you.
EMPIRE artist Inayah puts a toxic twist on a love song in her new single “For The Streets,” encapsulating feelings of betrayal with R&B flair. Released on February 22, Inayah reclaims self-love over a capricious lover’s disloyalty.
Inayah’s musical journey began in 2014 when she started writing songs for a jingle company while simultaneously sharing cover videos on social media. Her dedication paid off when her cover of Ella Mai’s “Boo’d Up” went viral on Instagram, propelling her followers from a modest 3,000 to an impressive 1.3 million. Superstar comedian and actress Tiffany Haddish, singer/songwriter/actor Jamie Foxx, singer/songwriter Maxwell and many more also reposted the rendition. This caught EMPIRE Records’s attention and led to a distribution deal that gave way to the release of ‘S.O.L.A.R.’ (Storytelling Over Lyrics and Rhymes). S.O.L.A.R. amassed over 635.6M streams, featuring the RIAA Gold and Platinum-certified hit “Best Thing.” Since then, Inayah has achieved other significant milestones like performing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2022.
Since she entered the R&B world in 2018, Inayah has captured her dedicated fans’ hearts with her unapologetic and fearless music. Drawing inspiration from icons like Beyoncé, Aretha Franklin, Yolanda Adams, and Anita Baker, the artist infuses her music with confidence and style.
Her new song, “For The Streets,” is a modern take on Fantasia’s R&B classic “When I See You.” An anti-love anthem, “For The Streets” serves as a powerful declaration for those breaking free from the shackles of toxic relationships. The single has amassed an impressive 10 million streams between YouTube and Spotify to date.
On her rendition of the beloved Fantasia song, Inayah said, “Initially I was afraid to touch it, it’s an R&B staple, how dare I touch it?” In the end, she concludes, “It was disruptive, it was dangerous, and it was the fear that fueled me.”
The video, directed by Jerry Morka, features Inayah navigating the various universal stages of a breakup: anger, grief, and acceptance. The video shows Inayah going about her daily life as paparazzi swarm her, symbolizing the intrusion of fame, as she relays a message to her ex-lover. Inayah later celebrates the breakup by having a glass of wine and indulging in self-care by the pool. Her lyrics highlight how those in unfulfilling relationships should prioritize themselves: “Good thing I kept my receipts/I finally see, you’re no good for me,” she sings, “Now I’m finally living stress-free.”
“Anytime something impacts my life, I write a song out of it and this is just one of those experiences I had,” Inayah said. “I was trying to reach the men and women who have finally decided to rid their lives and their time of the BS with love and relationships,” she added.
Inayah’s story exudes confidence and charisma—the kind of love we all hope to manifest in 2024. Positivity in even the coldest and emotionally tumultuous months of the year can be found, as seen through “For The Streets.”
Watch “For The Streets” on YouTube, and follow Inayah’s journey via social media.
Instagram: @inayah
Facebook: Inayah Lamis
YouTube: INAYAH
Twitter: @InayahLamis
TikTok: @inayah_lamis
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