Incapable (Keyshia Cole song)

"Incapable" is a song by American singer and songwriter Keyshia Cole from her seventh studio album, 11:11 Reset (2017). The song was written by Cole, Gabrielle Nowee, Marcella Araica, and Elijah Blake, with production being handled by Danja and Guitarboy. The song was released for digital download and streaming as the album's second single on August 25, 2017, by Epic Records. An R&B ballad, it is backed by an acoustic guitar and includes a sample of Rose Royce's 1976 single "I'm Going Down". Lyrically, the song discusses a relationship where one partner is putting in more effort than the other. Cole elucidated that the song was inspired by her own experiences in her previous romantic relationships.

"Incapable"
A photograph of Keyshia Cole laying down on a hardwood floor with two record players in front of her.
Single by Keyshia Cole
from the album 11:11 Reset
ReleasedAugust 25, 2017 (2017-08-25)
StudioNRG Recording
(North Hollywood, Los Angeles)
GenreR&B
Length3:24
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Keyshia Cole singles chronology
"You"
(2017)		 "Incapable"
(2017)		 "All Me"
(2019)

Music critics responded positively to "Incapable", praising Cole's vocals and its lyrics. An accompanying music video, directed by Mike Ho, was released on October 6, 2017. It takes place in a speakeasy and depicts Cole as she gets revenge on her boyfriend after suddenly finding out that he had been cheating on her. The video received positive reviews from critics, who praised its retro style theme. In further promotion, Cole performed the song on television programs such as the Soul Train Music Awards, The Wendy Williams Show, Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood, and Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

Background and release

"Incapable" was written by Keyshia Cole, Gabrielle Nowee, Marcella Araica, and Elijah Blake, while produced by Danja and Guitarboy. The audio was mixed by Jaycen Joshua, Maddoxx Chhim, and Araica. Randy Urbanski worked as the recording engineer, while Chhim provided additional support as assistant engineer. The vocals were produced by Cole, with assistance from Blake. The song was recorded and mixed at NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood, Los Angeles.[1]

On July 24, 2017, she previewed the song during a studio session on the premiere of the fourth season of the reality television series Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood.[2] Epic Records released the song for digital download and streaming on August 25, 2017, as the second single from 11:11 Reset, before distributing it to urban contemporary radio stations in the United States on September 17.[3][4] On September 30, the song was ranked the fifth most-added single at urban adult contemporary radio.[5] In October, Cole gave an interview about 11:11 Reset with Stephanie Ogbogu of Vibe. Cole explained the inspiration behind the song, saying: "This song channels my own experience as a woman, realizing that sometimes things are not completely about you. Sometimes it’s about someone else not being able to give you that. Someone not being capable of even loving you the way that you love."[6]

Composition and lyrics

Musically, "Incapable" is an R&B ballad which lasts for a duration of 3:24 (three minutes and twenty-five seconds).[9][3] The song is composed in the key of B♭major, set in common time signature, and has a moderately fast tempo of 180 beats per minute.[10] Instrumentation consists of an acoustic guitar, a Roland TR-808, and an emotional rhythm.[11] It includes a sample of American singer Rose Royce's single "I'm Going Down" (1976).[12] Jamie Wexler of ThisisRnB noted the elements of classic ballads and touches of old-school soul music,[13] and Chris Rizik of SoulTracks interpreted the composition as a power ballad with a "bluesy undertone".[9] Lyrics include: "It's time to grow up / I embarrassed myself enough / 'Cause I wouldn't leave you / Even my family know the truth, yeah."[14] Cole further sings about the relationship in the chorus, singing, "Oh, what a feeling / The one that I thought that I needed / Was incapable of needing me back / Incapable of loving like that."[15]

Lyrically, the song discusses a relationship where one partner is putting in more effort than the other.[7] An editor from Rap-Up viewed the lyrics as "heartbreaking" and felt that they revolve around an "ill-fated relationship".[15] Elle Breezy of Singersroom felt that the lyrics reference Cole's split from Daniel Gibson and that the song tells "the heartbreaking tale of realizing the person she loved didn't put in the same efforts into the relationship".[8] Isha Thorpe of iHeartRadio also felt that the lyrics focus on her split from Gibson, despite not being solely written by Cole.[16] Thorpe also suggested that the song "tells the story of a woman finally letting go of an ex who wronged her multiple times".[16]

Critical reception

"Incapable" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. Royal Bey from The Source felt that the "strong" ballad reflects Cole's "uncanny" ability to hold "beautiful" notes.[17] Da'Shan Smith of Billboard labeled the song as an example of traditional R&B and declared that Cole "flirts with mixing trap 808s beneath the old swing of the '60s" on the song.[18] According to Ken Hamm from Soul Bounce, "Incapable" is a ballad about "coming to terms with the fact that the one you want just isn't the one for you".[14] Hamm further added that Cole uses "an old school sound blending blues, gospel and even a little country and lyrics that feel personal yet poetic" and described the first verse as "a come to Jesus" one.[14]

An editor from TheGrio thought that the song "talks about a lover who simply doesn't have what it takes",[19] while Biana Garwood of Ebony deemed it as a "melancholy" track.[20] Keithan Samuels, writing for Rated R&B, classified "Incapable" as part of Cole's "solid foundation on songs related to love and relationships" and praised Cole's consistency of singing love songs.[7] James Wong of Tokyo Weekender described the song as "distinctively Keyshia",[21] while Tony Centeno from Vibe described it as "unique".[22]

Music video

Background and synopsis
Cole wearing a sleeveless starch white top and white wide brim hat while delivering a "heart-wrenching" performance of the song; this scene appears throughout.[23][24]

A music video for "Incapable", directed by Mike He, was made available through Cole's Vevo account on October 6, 2017.[25] Prior to its premiere, Cole debuted a trailer during her appearance on the American talk show The Real.[24] Cole had also posted several images of herself on set via her official Instagram account one month prior to the release.[26] In the video, Cole and her love interest walk into a speakeasy, where men are gambling and music is playing in the background.[27][28] After they sit down together, Cole then goes to the bathroom, where she overhears a conversation between two women in which one of them admits to the other that she is having an affair with Cole's love interest.[27] As "Incapable" starts to play, Cole is shown wearing a sleeveless starch white top and white wide brim hat while delivering a "heart-wrenching" performance of the song; this scene appears throughout.[23][24] Impressed by her performance, members of the audience join the stage to start dancing and singing with her.[23] A waitress later walks up to the love interest to deliver him a plate full of drinks but then mistakenly spills the drinks on his lap.[23] Cole stands in front of the table as it happens and then aggressively walks away, leaving her love interest humiliated.[23][29]

Reception

Critics praised the video for its retro style and felt that Cole was paying homage to the 1920s decade.[24][27][29] Samuels of Rated R&B described the video as "cinematic".[30] D-Money of Soul Bounce viewed the video as "vintage-inspired" and felt that the retro style overshadows the plot, making the video "that much more interesting".[27] Mikey Fresh of Vibe complimented the video's concept and its production, writing: "Having overcome of her share of shitty relationships, the Oakland-raised talent goes way back with her new video."[31] Sarah Michel of VH1 praised the wardrobe and choreography in the video and also interpreted that it ends just like "almost all of those situations".[29] An editor from Singersroom felt that Cole gave her love interest a "subtle payback" before leaving him and described the speakeasy as a "Cotton Club-styled venue".[32] Garwood of Ebony felt that Cole had decided "to take things into her own hands by getting revenge on the man who stole her heart" in the video.[20]

Live performances

On January 31, 2017, Cole performed a preview of "Incapable" live on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, following the performance of its preceding single, "You".[33] Breezy of Singersroom praised the performance and noted that Cole "pushed through performing the soulful ballad", despite having complications when fixing her earpiece while performing.[34] Cole performed the song for The Wendy Williams Show on October 20, 2017, while wearing a white pantsuit with a red fur coat and top hat and being accompanied by male backup dancers.[35][36] Antwane Folk of Rated R&B described the performance as "heartfelt" and compared the outfit worn by Cole during the performance to the signature look of fictional character Carmen Sandiego, while an editor from ThisisRnB described the performance as "stirring".[37][36]

On October 22, 2017, Cole performed the song during BET Her's inaugural television special BET Her Fights: Breast Cancer, and during the reunion of the fourth season of Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood the following day.[38][39] On November 26, Cole performed the song at the 2017 Soul Train Music Awards, with the performance replicating the music video.[40] Trent Fitzgerald of The Boombox described the performance as "dazzling" and declared that it was a "sexy rendition" of the song.[40] Hamm of Soul Bounce complimented Cole's vocals, describing it as a "emotional, albeit by-the-numbers performance" and that "stood out" amongst her past live performances.[41] Mark Elibert of Billboard described the performance as "exceptional".[42]

Credits and personnel
Recording
Personnel

Credits adapted from 11:11 Reset album liner notes.[1]

Charts
Chart performance for "Incapable"
Chart (2018) Peak
position
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[43] 50

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
United States August 25, 2017
Epic Records [3]
September 17, 2017 Urban contemporary radio [4]

References
  1. 11:11 Reset. Epic Records (Inlay cover). Keyshia Cole. October 20, 2017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. Garner, Latrese (July 24, 2017). "Love & Hip Hop Hollywood Premiere Recap 7/24/17: Season 4 Episode 1". Celeb Dirty Laundry. Archived from the original on July 25, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  3. "Incapable by Keyshia Cole". Amazon. August 25, 2017. ASIN B0763V3N81. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  4. Vinson, Nathan (September 17, 2017). "Chart Check: Demetria McKinney Enters Top 5 on Urban AC Radio, Keyshia Cole and Charlie Wilson Ready New Singles for Radio". Rated R&B. Archived from the original on October 7, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  5. "Adult R&B; National Airplay – Week of September 30, 2017". Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems. Archived from the original on September 27, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. Ogbogu, Stephanie (October 20, 2017). "Reflecting, Remembering and Reemerging: Keyshia Cole Opens Up About Her '11:11 Reset' Album". Vibe. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  7. Samuels, Keithan (August 26, 2017). "Keyshia Cole Releases New Single Incapable". Rated R&B. Archived from the original on October 4, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  8. Breezy, Elle (August 25, 2017). "Keyshia Cole – Incapable". Singersroom. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018.
  9. Rizik, Chris (August 28, 2017). "First Listen: Keyshia Cole wins us back on Incapable". SoulTracks. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  10. "Incapable by Keyshia Cole Key and BPM". SongData.io. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  11. "Keyshia Cole Delivers the Emotional Incapable [Stream]". Ebony. August 28, 2017. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  12. Samuels, Keithan (January 31, 2017). "Keyshia Cole Performs 'You' on 'Jimmy Kimmel'". Rated R&B. Archived from the original on February 5, 2017.
  13. Wexler, Jamie (August 25, 2017). "Keyshia Cole is Back to the Lovelorn Anthems We Love Her For". ThisisRnB. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  14. Hamm, Ken (August 28, 2017). "Keyshia Cole Comes To Terms With Her Heart On Incapable". Soul Bounce. Archived from the original on October 24, 2020.
  15. "New Music: Keyshia Cole – Incapable". Rap-Up. August 24, 2017. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  16. Thorpe, Isha. "New Music Report – Week of August 28th". iHeartRadio. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  17. Bey, Royal (August 28, 2017). "Keyshia Cole Releases Heartfelt Ballad Incapable". The Source. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  18. Smith, Da'Shan (November 16, 2017). "How Rihanna's 'Love on the Brain' Became the Most Subtly Influential Pop Single of the Past Year". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  19. "Keyshia Cole releases new single Incapable". TheGrio. August 25, 2017. Archived from the original on June 30, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  20. "Keyshia Cole Reveals Old-School Visual for Incapable". Ebony. October 9, 2017. Archived from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  21. Wong, James (September 11, 2017). "The Weekender Playlist: Eight Tracks You Can Sink Your Teeth Into". Tokyo Weekender. Archived from the original on September 16, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  22. Centeno, Tony (October 20, 2017). "Keyshia Cole Debuts '11:11 Reset' Album Feat. Remy Ma, DJ Khaled, Kamiyah & More". Vibe. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  23. "New Video: Keyshia Cole – Incapable". ThisisRnB. October 7, 2017. Archived from the original on October 10, 2017. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  24. Chris, Tiffany (October 8, 2017). "Keyshia Cole Releases a Music Video for Incapable". Glitter. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  25. "Keyshia Cole – Incapable (Mike Ho, dir.)". VideoStatic. October 9, 2017. Archived from the original on October 11, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  26. Fitzgerald, Trent (September 17, 2017). "Keyshia Cole Announces '11:11 Reset' Release Date, Shoots 'Incapable' Video". The Boombox. Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  27. "Keyshia Cole Handles Her Man Problems '20s Style in Incapable". Soul Bounce. October 9, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  28. "Video: Keyshia Cole – Incapable". Rap-Up. October 6, 2017. Archived from the original on October 8, 2017.
  29. Michel, Sarah (October 11, 2017). "Keyshia Cole Deals with a Triflin' Cheater but This Time in the Release of Her New Video Incapable". VH1. Archived from the original on October 15, 2017. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  30. Samuels, Keithan (October 6, 2017). "Keyshia Cole Shares 'Incapable' Video + New Song Best Friend". Rated R&B. Archived from the original on April 18, 2018. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  31. Fresh, Mikey (October 9, 2017). "Keyshia Cole's Incapable Video Will Bring You Back to the Past". Vibe. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  32. "Keyshia Cole Gets Her Cheating Man Back in Incapable Video". Singersroom. October 6, 2017. Archived from the original on October 7, 2017.
  33. "Keyshia Cole – Incapable (Live on Jimmy Kimmel Live!)". OnSMASH. January 31, 2017. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017.
  34. Breezy, Elle (January 31, 2017). "Keyshia Cole Performs New Single 'You' & New Song 'Incapable' On Jimmy Kimmel Live". Singersroom. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018.
  35. @WendyWilliams (October 19, 2017). "@KeyshiaCole performs Incapable off her new album, 11:11 Reset and tells us why she joined #LHHH. 📺" (Tweet). Retrieved November 24, 2020 – via Twitter.
  36. Folk, Antwane (October 20, 2017). "Watch: Keyshia Cole Performs Incapable on Wendy". ThisisRnB. Archived from the original on October 22, 2017.
  37. Folk, Antwane (October 19, 2017). "Keyshia Cole Brings 'Incapable' to The Wendy Williams Show". Rated R&B. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  38. Desselle, Giovanna (October 19, 2017). "Naturi Naughton Hosts BET Her Fights: Breast Cancer Concert Special Premiering Sunday, October 22, 2017 at 7pm ET/PT". Bloomberg L.P. Archived from the original on October 23, 2017.
  39. "Keyshia Cole performs new single tonight on Love & Hip Hop Hollywood Reunion 2". ABC News Radio. October 23, 2017. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017.
  40. Fitzgerald, Trent (November 26, 2017). "Keyshia Cole Performs 'Incapable' at 2017 Soul Train Awards [Video]". The Boombox. Archived from the original on December 3, 2017.
  41. Hamm, Ken (November 27, 2017). "You'll Be 'Incapable' Of Forgetting Keyshia Cole at the 2017 Soul Train Awards". Soul Bounce. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020.
  42. Elibert, Mark (November 27, 2017). "Bruno Mars Scores 5 Wins at 2017 BET Soul Train Awards, SZA Gets 2 & SWV Celebrate Lady of Soul Honor". Billboard. Penske Media Corporation.
  43. "Keyshia Cole Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
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