After the release of her third solo album, *Nyla*, in 2018, Marsha Ambrosius was content to remain in the background as a writer, producer, and occasional collaborator. However, in 2021, with encouragement from Dr. Dre—who was then recovering from a brain aneurysm and strokes—she embarked on a new project. This collaboration resulted in *Casablanco*, released under Dre’s Aftermath label. Dre granted Ambrosius creative freedom, and together with producers Focus…, Dem Jointz, and Erik Griggs, they crafted the album over two intense weeks.
The album features a 27-piece orchestra and an extensive array of samples and interpolations, which took over a year to clear legally. Conceptually, *Casablanco* resembles an expanded version of Ambrosius’ Dre-assisted cover of Sade’s “Love Is Stronger Than Pride,” from *Friends & Lovers*. Listening to it is like experiencing a film with a constant stream of needle drops, giving it a mixtape-like quality. Despite the potential fatigue from its heavy reliance on past ideas, it’s clear that Ambrosius, Dre, and their collaborators enjoyed the process. The album maintains a lyrical consistency with themes of lust, romance, and heartache.
Ambrosius’ intricate performance on “Wet,” which features samples from James Moody, the Dramatics, Minnie Riperton, and Wu-Tang Clan, underscores her prowess as a solo artist. The album concludes with “Music of My Mind,” a playful track where Ambrosius references Al B. Sure!, Earth, Wind & Fire, Patrice Rushen, and herself, along with a quirky nod to “Soul II Soul” and “The Fifth Element,” all set against an operatic backdrop.
English