Keys continues with prominent, clapping percussion and guitar arrangements in вЂњBlended Family (What You Do For Love),вЂќ the only track to feature another artist: A$AP Rocky. вЂњWhere Do We Begin NowвЂќ masterfully incorporates soft, cascading piano tones with a pounding beat to illustrate the songвЂ™s female narratorвЂ™s inner turmoil in revealing her relationship with another woman and exploring homosexuality.В Stepping away from her comfort zone, Keys proves that risks, when done correctly, are well worth the reward. In the albumвЂ™s fifth track, вЂњKill Your Mama,вЂќ KeysвЂ™ lone voice is unadorned, accompanied only by a sonorous, resounding guitar. Throughout the album, Keys combines her trademark piano accompaniment with new and improved arrangements heavily centered on acoustic guitars and percussion. Fans have been long awaiting the new album following KeysвЂ™ intermittent song releases since her previous project, Girl on Fire, and the debut of HereвЂ™s hypnotic first single, вЂњIn Common,вЂќВ in May. After leaving Columbia University to pursue a singing career, Keys broke into the music scene in 2001 with her album, Songs in A Minor, which sold 12 million copies worldwide and won Keys five Grammys.ДЇifteen years later, Keys has discovered a new sound - one that shows her growth as both a musician and person as she explores socially conscious lyrics and an old school R&B sound. Growing up in the HellвЂ™s Kitchen area of Manhattan, New York, Keys draws much inspiration from her roots in her albums. From bouncy, energetic melodies to stripped down acoustic ballads, the 16-track record takes aim at issues plaguing the nation such as race, homosexuality and environmentalism through KeysвЂ™ eyes.

Rocking an untamed afro and bare face on her latest album cover, Alicia Keys appears more true to herself than ever.

Alicia keys album cover in common