Chlöe is a music star in her own right, possessing the qualities of R&B legends that came before her whilst offering a refreshing twist shared by many of today’s contemporaries.
Having established herself through sister duo Chloe x Halle under Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment imprint, particularly with 2020’s critically-acclaimed second studio album Ungodly Hour, Chlöe’s solo era was imminent during the pandemic. Her sister was cast to play Ariel in Disney’s upcoming live-action The Little Mermaid movie, leaving the singer to create music of her own that wouldn’t surface until a year later. She opened up about having anxiety from being separated from Halle with Allure, stating “Music saved me. I was at a low moment where I felt lost, like I didn’t have any sense of who I was.”
The songstress essentially took the Internet by storm with her debut single “Have Mercy,” accompanied by its seductive music video which features cameos from Bree Runway, Tina Knowles, and Rome Flynn. It samples 2018’s “Off the Chain” by UNIIQU3 and TT the Artist—who voice the unforgettable “work it” unforgettable line. In the video, Chlöe becomes a modern-day Medusa presiding over a sorority house full of siren-like gorgons who turns frat boys into stone. Fittingly, the song nods to D4L’s 2006 track “Laffy Taffy” while pulling inspiration from Kelis’ renowned hit song “Milkshake.” Subsequently, “Have Mercy” debuted at #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and earned the songstress her first RIAA-certified gold record as a solo artist.
Upon release, “Have Mercy” dominated radio airwaves and charts, but Chlöe received a bit of backlash as a result. As a young artist growing into owning her body and having more self-confidence in her sexuality, fans took to social media to share their concerns about the musician being “too sexual”—a topic that she dealt with in the months leading up to the song. However, the record lauded praise from celebrities alike and continued to climb the charts regardless.
Chlöe graced fans with her sophomore effort, “Treat Me,” back in April alongside stunning visuals. The chorus boasts a prominent sample from Bubba Sparxxx’s 2005 track, “Ms. New Booty,” which further complements the romantic nature of the pop-tinged song. Its music video features her wearing a black puffer jacket and matching thong—as seen in the cover art—in some scenes and a crystalized high-neck two-piece in others. “You better treat me like I treat me, ‘cause sometimes it’s only being fed up, just walk away, do it yourself, get yourself some flowers, love yourself,” she shared regarding the song.
“Surprise” serves as the third single from the music starlet, slated to appear on her self-titled debut album. Produced by Scott Storch, the song continues to build on her sultry lyrics and vocal prowess. The Diana Kunst-directed visual effort see her getting intimate with her partner, played by actor Broderick Hunter, as she sings shirtless while laying on the bed and gracefully dances in a Balenciaga underwear set. “Surprise” falls a bit short of both “Have Mercy” and “Treat Me,” accumulating six million views on YouTube and over ten million global streams across DSPs. She also performed the record live for the first time at the 2022 BET Awards, capturing the crowd’s attention with her awe-inspiring performance and choreography.
Despite having turned her album in earlier this year, the singer took to Instagram Live to share an update on the project: “at this point, I don’t know.” Thus far, neither Chlöe nor her label has spoken out regarding the full-length release. Its delay can stem from a multitude of reasons, including sample clearance, Beyoncé’s Renaissance being a priority for the label, or simply the records after her debut single not performing as well as their predecessor. Although it’s possible that we may or may not get an album from the singer any time soon, she confirmed that the third studio album from Chloe x Halle is currently in the works.
