Pop artist Slayyyter released her new single, “crank 2,” on Thursday, marking the second preview from an anticipated "brother album" to her most recent work, "WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA." The upcoming album, which Slayyyter described as an "inverse album" to its predecessor, is slated for release this fall. On June 17, Slayyyter informed Rolling Stone that she is actively working on this new project.
The release of “crank 2” follows the initial single, “brand new chanel$.” Slayyyter had been building anticipation for “crank 2,” teasing its development on TikTok in May. She shared clips featuring her recording the song live in the studio, generating significant attention from her audience.
“crank 2” opens with an aggressive beat and potent lyrics, referring to the artist as a "pretty motherf—–" and mentioning her signature $100 bill trucker hat. This distinctive accessory is one Slayyyter frequently wears during her performances. Listeners will quickly notice the angrier tone of “crank 2” compared to its predecessor, “CRANK.” The song contains lines that contrast the artist with others who may be keeping certain individuals "undercover."
The chorus of the song maintains this assertive stance, with Slayyyter singing about maintaining a particular demeanor, putting her "face on the dash," making money, and others running out of cash. The opening concepts of this chorus directly echo phrases from her previous song, “CRANK,” which featured lyrics about staying "straight" and "bad" while keeping a "finger on the trigger." The song continues with lines about staying "straight" and "wicked," and others "choking on chickens," before noting her rising fame, stating that she is "blowing up" and "on your television.” This latter lyric serves as a nod to Slayyyter’s considerable rise in popularity since the release of her last album. Her increased visibility includes appearances on national television programs, such as performing her pop hit “DANCE…” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The track reaches its peak intensity as the beat drops, with Slayyyter emphatically singing a command to "Crank it."
The outro of “crank 2” features Slayyyter singing about being let off, a phrase also present in her song “YES GODDD.” She then repeatedly delivers lyrics about people wanting to engage in specific activities and asserts herself as "the GOAT," before the song gradually fades out.
Accompanying the single, the music video for “crank 2” contributes an eerie atmosphere. The video is entirely presented in black and white, with a singular exception: a scene depicting a man covered in blood, who is shown drawing on the wall behind him with blood. Critics describe “crank 2” as an excellent and aggressive companion to its earlier iteration, “CRANK,” further amplifying excitement for Slayyyter’s upcoming "brother album" this fall.
