The Lead (EP)

The Lead is the debut extended play by English girl group Flo. It was released on 8 July 2022, through Island Records.^[1] It was preceded by three singles: "Cardboard Box", "Immature" and "Summertime".

The Lead
EP by Flo
Released	8 July 2022 (2022-07-08)
Genre	R&B
Length	14:27
Label	Island
Producer	Uzoechi Emenike Tre Jean-Marie Joe Gossling Joe Hartwell Jones Jamal Woon LOXE Maths Time Joy RELYT
Flo chronology
The Lead (2022) 3 of Us (2023)
Singles from The Lead
"Cardboard Box" Released: 24 March 2022 "Immature" Released: 6 July 2022 "Summertime" Released: 14 August 2022

The debut extended play was produced by MNEK, except "Another Guy (Acoustic)". On 14 September 2022, the English trio re-released the extended play which served as a deluxe, with a promotional single: "Not My Job".^[2]

Background

"Cardboard Box" was first released on 24 March 2022, by the English trio and acted as the trio's debut single.^[3] Later on, this single also acted as the lead single for their extended play. The debut song was produced by English producer MNEK.^[4] An accompanying music video was published to YouTube on 1 April 2022, which surpassed 900 thousand views within days.^[5] Many established artists, such as SZA and Missy Elliott praised the song on social media.^[6] The trio described the song as "getting yourself together after a breakup".^[7] On 6 May 2022, an acoustic version of this single was released.^[8]

"Immature" acted as their second single which was released on 6 July 2022.^[9][10] Pitchfork described the trio's vocals as "an icy edge, while the trio's golden harmonies at the bridge keep things crisp."^[11] A music video for this single was released on the same day as the EP.^[12] The trio performed both singles live for Vevo DSCVR on 5 August 2022.^[13]

The same day where their second was released, the English trio announced their debut extended play.^[14] The extended play was released on 8 July 2022, with a total of five tracks.^[15] MNEK produced four out of the five songs featured in the EP.^[16] In September 2022, the trio re-released the extended play with an additional track, named "Not My Job", which was released as a promotional single.^[17]

Critical reception

The EP received widespread acclaim from critics. Complex called it "an essential listen".^[18] with Nylon making a similar assessment.^[19] Rolling Stone predicted that the EP would vault Flo to stardom.^[20] MuuMuse noted that the EP displays the confidence and authority of a long-establish star act, despite being Flo's first full release.^[21] The EP also received positive reviews from The Honey Pop,^[22] 360,^[23] and Soul Bounce.^[24]

Track listing

Credits adapted from Tidal and Genius.^[25][26]

Standard edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Cardboard Box"	Uzoechi Emenike Stella Quaresma Savannah Jada Renée Downer Jorja Douglas	MNEK	2:41
2.	"Immature"	Aminata Kabba Emenike Ryan Ashley Jamal Woon	Woon MNEK[a]	2:53
3.	"Summertime"	Emenike Kabba Woon Rashaan Brown Tyler Hotston	MNEK Woon RELYT Joe Gosling	2:28
4.	"Feature Me"	Douglas Downer Quaresma Kabba Woon Hannah Yadi Timothy James Worthington Rowan Perkins	Maths Time Joy LOXE MNEK[a]	3:22
5.	"Another Guy" (Acoustic)	Aston Rudi Brown Quaresma Downer Douglas	Joe Hartwell Jones Joshua Alamu[b]	3:03
Total length:				14:27

Vinyl edition (bonus track)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
6.	"Cardboard Box" (Acoustic)	Emenike Quaresma Jada Downer Douglas	MNEK	2:41
Total length:				17:17

Apple Music Up Next edition (bonus track)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Cardboard Box"	Emenike Quaresma Jada Downer Douglas	MNEK	2:41
2.	"Immature"	Kabba Emenike Ashley Woon	Woon MNEK[a]	2:53
3.	"Not My Job"	Talay Riley Emenike Dayo Olatunji Quaresma Tre Jean-Marie Downer Douglas	Jean-Marie MNEK[a]	2:54
4.	"Summertime"	Emenike Kabba Woon Brown Hotston	MNEK Woon RELYT Gosling	2:28
5.	"Feature Me"	Douglas Downer Quaresma Kabba Woon Yadi Worthington Perkins	Maths Time Joy LOXE MNEK[a]	3:22
6.	"Another Guy" (Acoustic)	Rudi Brown Quaresma Downer Douglas	Jones Alamu[b]	3:03
Total length:				17:21

Notes:

• ^{^[a]} signifies an additional producer
• ^{^[b]} signifies a co-producer

Personnel

Credits adapted from Genius.^[27]

Musicians

• Jorja Douglas – vocals (all tracks)
• Renée Downer – vocals (all tracks)
• Stella Quaresma – vocals (all tracks)

Production

• Uzoechi Emenike – producer (tracks 1-4)
• Jamal Woon – producer (tracks 2-3)
• Joe Gossling – producer (track 3)
• RELYT – producer (track 3)
• Maths Time Joy – producer (track 4)
• LOXE – producer (track 4)
• Joe Hartwell Jones – producer (track 5)
• Tre Jean-Marie – producer (track 3 (Apple Music Up Next edition))

Release history

Release dates and formats for The Lead

Region	Date	Format(s)	Edition	Label	Ref.
Various	8 July 2022	Digital download streaming	Standard	Island	[28]
	14 September 2022		Deluxe		[26]
	9 December 2022	Vinyl LP	Standard		[29]

References

1. Folk, Antwane (8 July 2022). "R&B Trio Flo Releases Debut EP The Lead". Rated R&B. Archived from the original on 22 July 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
2. O'Connor, Siobhain (21 September 2022). "Flo share new single "Not My Job"". Dork. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
3. Ackroyd, Stephen (24 March 2022). "Brand new London-based trio Flo have shared their debut single, "Cardboard Box"". Dork. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
4. Keith, James (4 April 2022). "UK R&B Trio Flo Step Out With MNEK-Produced "Cardboard Box"". Complex. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
5. Murray, Robin (5 April 2022). "UK Girl Group Flo Share "Cardboard Box" Video". Clash. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
6. Irvin, Jack (15 July 2022). "Flo on Viral Hit 'Cardboard Box,' Reviving R&B and Striving to Go Down in 'Girl Group History'". People. Archived from the original on 5 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
7. Lamps, JK (7 July 2022). "Flo Break Down Their Smash Hit "Cardboard Box" On Genius' 'Verified'". GRM Daily. Archived from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
8. Logan, Philip (11 May 2022). "Flo Share 'Cardboard Box' Acoustic Video". CelebMix. Archived from the original on 5 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
9. Gordon, Lauren (6 July 2022). "R&B girl group Flo release second single Immature". Mixtape Madness. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
10. Stern, Bradley (6 July 2022). ""Immature": Flo Builds Their Case for Girl Group Greatness". MuuMuse. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
11. Haile, Heven (7 July 2022). ""Immature" by Flo". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
12. "Flo – Immature". Alfitude. 8 July 2022. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
13. "Watch: Flo Soar with 'Immature' Live on Vevo DSCVR". That Grape Juice. 5 August 2022. Archived from the original on 5 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
14. Krol, Charlotte (7 July 2022). "Flo announce debut EP 'The Lead' dropping this Friday". New Musical Express. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
15. Samuels, Keithan (21 July 2022). "Buzzing R&B Trio Flo Talks Debut EP 'The Lead': Interview". Rated R&B. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
16. Wynter, Courtney (8 July 2022). "Flo Gift Us With More Smooth R&B Vibes On Debut EP 'The Lead'". GRM Daily. Archived from the original on 20 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
17. Wang, Steffanee (21 September 2022). "Flo's "Not My Job" continues their streak of '90s R&B excellence". Nylon. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
18. "R&B Trio Flo's Debut Project, 'The Lead', Is An Essential Listen". Complex. 8 July 2022. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
19. June, Sophia (6 July 2022). "Your Next Favorite Girl Group Flo Is About to Debut Their EP". Nylon. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
20. Mier, Tomás (8 July 2022). "Flo Is the R&B Girl Group We Never Knew We Needed". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
21. Stern, Bradley (8 July 2022). "With Their Debut EP, Flo Is Already in the 'Lead' (Review)". MuuMuse. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
22. Heady, Taylor Alexis (10 July 2022). "Flo Has The Lead As Our New Favorite Thing!". The Honey Pop. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
23. "Flo - The Lead". 360 Magazine. 10 July 2022. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
24. D, Double (10 July 2022). "Flo Is Ready To Take 'The Lead' On Debut EP". SoulBounce. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
25. "The Lead – EP". Tidal. 8 July 2022. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
26. "The Lead (Apple Music Up Next Film Edition) – EP". Genius. 21 September 2022. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
27. "The Lead – EP". Genius. 8 July 2022. Archived from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
28. "The Lead Digital EP". FLO Official Store. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
29. "The Lead Vinyl LP". FLO Official Store. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2023.