Khalid’s debut American Teen was welcomed with open arms last year. The singer added his name to a growing list of virtuoso performers who combine fringe elements in their repertoire. This natural process of assimilation gives rise to singers who extend far beyond the imagined boundaries of contemporary R&B. On paper “OTW” shouldn’t work. The segmented parts assigned to Khalid, 6LACK and Ty Dolla $ign would realistically create a logjam. The adages “too many cooks in the kitchen,” or “too much of a good thing” instantly come to mind. But on “OTW” those concerns are adequately compensated for.
