bLAck pARty’s 'The Last Dance' Is a Fresh & Groovy Ode to Nightlife
ALBUM REVIEW: Get ready to catch a groove with bLAck pARty's 'The Last Dance'
If you’ve been tapped into the alternative R&B universe over the past few years, then you’ve probably come across the genre-blurring, funk-splashed sound of bLAck pARty. Born Malik Flint, bLAck pARty was raised in Arkansas and currently resides in LA (hence, the stylized nature of his artist name). He got his start producing for others before stepping into the spotlight as the artist we know today.
Since the release of his first project, Mango, in 2016, he’s built a cult following for his laid-back vocals, dreamy production, and ability to blend genres into one fluid offering. bLAck pARty’s music sounds like a weekend evening filled with party favors and quiet confidence. And with his new album The Last Dance, he might’ve just delivered his best yet.
There’s a breezy sophistication present on The Last Dance. It feels like an artist fully comfortable in his skin. From the opening notes of the first track, “Distant Lover”, the production feels elevated. There’s lush atmosphere, deep basslines, and layered harmonies that nod to Prince, The Internet, Frank Ocean, and Childish Gambino (who bLAck pARty has worked with in the past).
What really makes The Last Dance pop for me is how fresh it sounds. Even as it dips occasionally into retro influences, nothing about the album feels recycled. Songs like “The Last Dance” and “Tonight” are made with packing dance floors with bodies in mind.
On tracks like “Sweet” with Mack Keane, bLAck pARty leans into a funkier sonic, while songs like “Moonlight” slow things down with warm, tropical energy. It’s the kind of album that invites repeat listens, not because it demands your attention, but because it absolutely deserves it.
He tells SweetestRnB that the project is an ode to DJs and nightlife, something he really studied while on the road with Childish Gambino.
“During my experience, it shifted how I saw music and how DJs control the soundtrack of the evening. From raves to smoky jazz bars, the DJ is a pivotal piece of the night. I just want to celebrate that.”
The Last Dance feels like a celebration. Of movement, of mood, of music that lives best under dim lights and surrounded by good energy. It’s the kind of album that sounds just as at home at a rooftop kickback in Harlem as it does cruising through the streets of LA or Tokyo.
Wherever you are, bLAck pARty makes it feel like thee place to be. The Last Dance is will be in rotation over here anytime the weather is warm and the drinks are flowing.
