When she released "Obsessed" in March of 2021, it seemed like nobody was there for the TikTok star's music debut. For a brief moment in time, it was almost like Rae was the laughing stock of the music industry. Since then, she's had two songs reach the Billboard Hot 100, was featured on the cover of Vogue: France, and had a song go Platinum. Truly, no one is doing it like the one and only Addison Rae.

Image Credit: TheOfficialPandora from Wikimedia Commons

Goodbye AR, Hello Addison

Long after the release of her first EP AR, Rae dropped "Diet Pepsi" in August of 2024. Now, she's dropped her debut album Addison—a dreamlike pop utopia, featuring singles like "Headphones On" and "Aquamarine", as well as new songs like "Money is Everything" and "Summer Forever".

If you're still not sure how good the album is, just ask the very same people who weren't too impressed by Rae's music all those years ago:

if u had said to me in 2020 that addison rae would be capable of creating an almost 10/10 debut album then i would have said that u were delusional... but i fear she's done just that — 9.8/10

— zander (@zander2187) via X

Admittedly, I was one of those people. When I first heard songs like "Obsessed" in 2021 and "2 Die 4" in 2023, it's safe to say I wasn't pleased with what the singer had released. If you asked me what I thought of Addison Rae's music, I would've told you it was generic and unoriginal.

While still not entirely untrue, that wasn't really the reason I didn't like it. It was because Addison Rae had made it. I couldn't take her seriously having previously known her as just another influencer on TikTok. I thought that the whole music thing was just another cash-grab from yet another influencer.

addison rae releasing whisper pop music is what happens when we as a society support basic white girls dancing basically on a basic app

— george can’t-stand-ya (@grgecantstandya) via X

Four years later, it really does seem like Rae is sincere about her love for music. Though not every track is a 10/10, Rae has really found a sound she enjoys. A good sound (And let's be honest—looking back, AR wasn't even that bad).

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Okay, Now What About the Album?

Addison Rae's Addison goes in a much different direction than her previous EP. After listening to the album, it's a lot less surprising that she's been hanging out with the likes of Charli xcx and Troye Sivan.

Image Credit: TheOfficial Pandora from Wikimedia Commons

Addison uses a synthesizer frequently throughout the album, which is something I haven't seen too much of in recent years. The album in general is unlike anything I've heard in mainstream music lately. In an industry where most new artists are busy trying to be the next Gracie Abrams or Taylor Swift, Addison Rae steps away from making a The Secret Of Us clone and tries her hand at a late noughties sound (that's definitely not to say that she's the first to do it, though).

One of my only qualms with the album is that it doesn't feel new. At only twelve tracks, with two of them being less than a minute long, nearly half of the songs on the album have already been released between the release of "Diet Pepsi" and Addison. Though the songs did make for good publicity, it made the album feel like things I've already heard before and left me wanting more. Nonetheless, the new songs were still pretty good for her debut—especially one song in particular.

Addison Rae Loves "New York", and So Do We

"New York" is my favourite new track from Addison. As the name would imply, the song is a love letter to New York City. Another song to add to the list!

The song is on the shorter side, lasting only two minutes and a half. It's also relatively repetitive, with verses only being two lines each and the choruses being the same few sentences repeated. Despite the simplicity of the song's structure, there's something addicting about the song. Whether it's Rae's voice autotuned to a perfect level of crunchiness, or the dreamy synth track in the background, one thing's for certain—"New York" is the gift that keeps on giving.

The song opens on Rae whispering to "take a bite of the big apple", an obvious nod to the city's famous nickname. Rae makes it clear how much she loves New York City, repeating it nine times throughout each chorus. Much like Camila Cabello's "I Luv It" on C, XOXO, the repetitive nature of the chorus makes it an ear worm stuck in your head.

The only difference? You probably don't mind having "New York" stuck in your head as much.

What's Next For Addison Rae?

Image Credit: TheOfficialPandora from Wikimedia Commons

This is only her debut album, but Rae is showing a great potential already. If she plays her cards right, she could definitely get to household name status.

There has been confirmation of Addison Rae dropping "Rae" from her stage name, but honestly, I don't think that's the way to go. The reason why the one name thing works for stars like Beyoncé, Zendaya, and Cher, is because they have unique names you're unlikely to hear anywhere else. The problem with simply going by Addison is that it's a common name you could find just about anywhere in the English-speaking world. Getting rid of "Rae" would make her name a lot less recognizable upon first glance.

Having said that, I'm still excited to see what she releases next—Rae or no Rae.