Drunken Babble

Drunken Babble is the debut mixtape by American singer-songwriter Kali Uchis. It was released independently on August 1, 2012. The mixtape was reportedly written, produced, and recorded in 48 hours using digital music recording application GarageBand.

An alternative R&B and neo soul mixtape, publication GQ highlighted the eclectic soundscape of the project, describing it as "dreamy R&B vocals with tough-talk rap lyrics, DIY beats, samples and influences spanning soul, reggae, doo-wop and synth pop."

Upon release, the mixtape play was met with mostly positive reviews. Music critics compared its lyrical content and vocal styling to musicians such as Jhené Aiko.

On June 21, 2024, Kali Uchis re-recorded and released the track “Never Be Yours” onto streaming services due to strong demand from fans.

Background
Uchis developed a passion for music since she was in high school. She attended T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, where she learned how play the saxophone and piano, eventually participating her school’s jazz band. Around this time, she began skipping class to spend time at the photo lab, making experimental short films. Her interest in photography led to her creating the mixtape’s cover art. As a result of skipping class and breaking the curfew set by her parents led to her being kicked out of her home. She eventually began to live in her car and began to write her own songs on her keyboard and beats on her MacBook. After graduating high school, Uchis began working on the project in July 2012.