R&B crooner Giveon has made a triumphant return with his sophomore album Beloved, a project steeped in classic soul influences. Executive-produced by Sevn Thomas, the 14-track album pays homage to the lush sound of 1970s soul – complete with cinematic strings, warm horns, and heartfelt storytelling. Giveon pours his heart out on Beloved, tracing the ups and downs of a modern love story: his smooth baritone navigates heartbreak, longing, and hope in equal measure, with vulnerable lyrics that swing from “the lows” to “the highs” and everything in between.
In crafting Beloved, Giveon drew on personal growth since his 2022 debut. “Beloved is a complete encapsulation of the transformative growth I experienced over the past three years. My trials and tribulations, the good and the bad, all helped form this album,” the singer explained. That hard-won honesty shines through on tracks like “Good Bad Ugly,” where he professes devotion “through the good, bad, and ugly” in a raw display of unconditional love.
The album’s lead-up singles “Twenties” and “Rather Be” offered a preview of Giveon’s soulful direction, and the full record delivers on that promise. From the opening track “Mud” – which sees him confronting an ex’s betrayal – to the final tender ballad, Beloved reaffirms Giveon’s place as a torchbearer for contemporary R&B. With its throwback live instrumentation and Giveon’s rich vocals, Beloved feels like an old-school soul album with a modern, autobiographical twist.
