Melanie Martinez's sophomore album, K-12, originally released in 2019, is another ambitious triumph for the artist. As with her multi-platinum debut, Cry Baby, K-12's music is a vibrant and singular melting pot of low-key hip-hop, soulful pop and indie-leaning electro. K-12's universe is an expansion of the one introduced on Cry Baby. Using lyrics rich with metaphor, the songs on K-12 address the struggle to find a place to belong - including within friendships, the physical world and romantically - even when fitting into society feels like an uphill battle.