In the big year of 2026, you would think that we would be past misogynistic views and opinions, especially in the queer music community. Everyone and their mama knows that Steve Lacy dropped an album this summer titled “oh yeah?” It was hyped to the max and it lead to multiple Tiktok trends featuring his newly released songs. In my opinion, it was a good album. Was it his best work? No. Did it top his previous album “Gemini Rights”? Not even close. Someone else who is very similar to Steve Lacy in a multitude of ways also dropped a new album this summer. I bet you have no idea who i’m referring to right now. The main difference between the two: one is a man, and one is a woman.
Willow Smith released an album titled, “The Thread”, in July of 2026 just days after Steve dropped his. After listening to both of these albums I’ve realized that these albums SHOULD be drawing in the same demographic of listeners. Both artists are mainstream, both are young adults, both are black, and both are queer. Both albums served to fill the same music niche, and both are experimental, creative albums.
Steve Lacy is an amazingly talented queer black musician, but did this album really deserve all of the hype it received? In my opinion, the album was classic Steve Lacy reheated. You know, like when you have a really good meal at a restaurant but you take the leftovers home and reheat them? And they don’t taste as good. Like that. Steve usually has sexual innuendos in his songs but in this album it was not as smoothly integrated. The album in itself was about sex and romantic feelings, which I’m not hating on, but it did not live up to the expectations. I believe it had a few good songs such as, “the feeling” and “is it cool?” with SZA. Now, also in my own opinion, Willow’s album did exactly what she set out to achieve with it. It had a clear and well thought out story hidden in the titles and lyrics of each song. Willow herself describes this album as exploring “the divine feminine” and “higher consciousness”. “The Thread” being a reference to a connection that holds the album together. Willow’s album had ZERO skips throughout the 36 minute, 10 track lineup. The story and incredible musicality and production of this album kept me locked in.
I bring up misogyny in this situation because I know for a fact that it is a part of why Willow’s album has not been hyped up or “tiktokified” like Steve’s was. It may not be the only explanation, but it is one of them. I asked a few of my friends if they had listened to the album. More often than not, my male friends did not even entertain the idea of listening to Willow’s album, yet they had already overplayed Steve’s. In contrast, my female friends were very eager to praise Willow’s album. This unwillingness to listen to an artist simply because they are female or female presenting is insane, because, like I previously mentioned, the two artists only differ in gender.
All of this to say, go listen to Willow’s album, “The Thread”!!! And also support female/female presenting artists!