# @popcrave on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DeZVpXzu67i
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/71496632-popcrave-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/f272873efd.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-10-12T13:31:54.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Pop Crave (@PopCrave) — https://gondola.cc/PopCrave

## Caption

4 years ago today, RAYE released “Escapism.” featuring 070 Shake.

“Escapism.” was the unique breakout moment for an artist already backed by a catalog of hits. British singer-songwriter RAYE had spent nearly a decade in the music industry scoring dance hits and penning tracks for fellow artists before revealing in mid 2021 that her label would not allow her to release her debut album.

She was met with an outpouring of support from other artists and later returned with the news that she had parted ways with them and was now navigating the industry as an independent artist.

On June 30th, 2022, she released her first single as an independent artist, “Hard Out Here,” which saw her face head-on the misogyny and patriarchal structures of the music industry. It marked a strong re-introduction for the singer and refreshed her musical identity.

Then, in October, she dropped “Escapism.” featuring American rapper 070 Shake as a dual single alongside “The Thrill Is Gone,” keeping the momentum moving for her debut album, which arrived in February, titled ‘My 21st Century Blues.’

A blend of R&B, electropop and hip-hop, “Escapism.” is a brutally honest testimony of dealing with heartbreak, detailing her turn to substances and partying to numb the pain. It was with critical acclaim and soon gained traction online before snowballing into a mainstream hit.

It first debuted on the UK singles chart in November before climbing to No. 1 in January 2023 to become RAYE’s first-ever No. 1 single. The song also became her first to chart on the US Hot 100 - peaking at No. 22 - and reached the top 10 in a plethora of other countries.

RAYE may have had hit singles before, but “Escapism.” felt like a real breakthrough moment for her, allowing her to succeed on her own terms and with her own sound. The track transformed her into one of the UK’s biggest stars and rendered her story one of inspiration for other artists trapped in label purgatory: proof that drive and talent should never be withheld.

#RAYE #throwback #reels #popmusic

## Stats

- **Views:** 9,289
- **Likes:** 947
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 8

## Tags

throwback, popmusic, reels, raye

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