Ottawa rapper Belly is the latest artist featured in the Vevo Ctrl series. Coming in support of his new album, See You Next Wednesday, Belly performs live versions of the tracks “Flowers” (produced by Nick Lamb, Brandon Hollemon, Myles Martin, DaHeala, and DannyBoyStyles) and “Can You Feel It” (produced by The ANMLS).
Belly comes on strong, but listening to See You Next Wednesday, it never feels like he’s using a blunt object on you. The beats are lithe. His flow is limber. He’s always moving forward and while it’s easy to get caught up in the momentum, you seldom feel him pushing or shoving. The LA rapper with the Canadian upbringing and Palestinian heritage is a little too dapper, a little too poised for that.
“The only time I be a snake is at the sight of a rat,” he says to kick off the album that fans have been waiting for since 2018’s Immigrant.
Belly has told interviewers that he took some time off to get his footing back, that he had very little “emotional currency” to spend during the past few years. But work was being done. He helped his pal Abel Tesfaye sculpt his masterwork After Hours with some songwriting ideas. The Weeknd repays him with a couple key Wednesday features, “Better Believe” and “Die For It” (featuring Nas).
And he’s not the only bigwig jumping on. Young Thug, Nas, Moneybagg Yo, Lil Uzi Vert, and others round out Belly’s moves. Of course, the “Might Not” hero was alone when he hit our Brooklyn studios for sizzling Ctrl performances of “Flowers” and “Can You Feel It.” Ultimately, he has no problem telling his own story.
You can find See You Next Wednesday on Spotify, and various other digital streaming platforms via XO / Roc Nation Records. Check out the two Bram VanderMark-directed videos below.
