Five Years Later, We’re Still Living in Chloe x Halle’s ‘Ungodly Hour’

When we think of the music that fed us during the pandemic, I can’t help but put Chloe and Halle Bailey’s Ungodly Hour near the top of the menu. Released five years ago today, on June 12, 2020, the album wasn’t just a sonic comfort—it was a pivotal moment for the singers disguised as a perfect collection of futuristic R&B music.

Chloe and Halle performed flawless harmonies in their backyard, fine-tuned their sound, and proved that even in isolation, artistry could thrive. Today, Ungodly Hour feels more like a lightning-in-a-bottle moment in the sisters’ careers.

In honor of its fifth anniversary, we’re looking back on the album’s influence—both musical and cultural—and revisiting the moments that made us pay attention, retweet, and press replay.

Their music felt more mature

Though Chloe and Halle first gained recognition through YouTube covers and early music that leaned tween-friendly, Ungodly Hour marked a full-fledged arrival into their grown era. The breakout single, “Do It,” struck a perfect balance—radio-ready and undeniably catchy, yet still grounded in the rich harmonies that defined Chloe x Halle’s sound. Tracks like “Busy Boy” signaled a lyrical shift, too, as If they were no longer dreaming up scenarios about relationships but drawing from actual experience. The title track felt like a message from the year 2102, ethereal, futuristic, and emotionally evolved.

Since then, neither has quite recaptured the magic solo. Chloe’s pop-leaning efforts seem engineered for virality but often fall flat, and it’s still unclear what musical lane Halle is pursuing.

That’s what made Ungodly Hour so special. It was concise, genre-bending, and deeply intentional—a moment of clarity and control that started to prove they were more than just Beyoncé’s protégés.

Elite performances and visuals

I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited about what Chloe and Halle were going to do next than during their Ungodly Hour era. There was a palpable sense they were in control and unafraid to play. They turned their tennis court into a performance venue and somehow made a sterile black box like the one from Netflix’s You look high-fashion in the “Do It” video.

Everything felt like an event because they were redefining what it meant to perform under constraints. Their harmonies were air tight, their choreography crisp, their aesthetic polished—but it was the vision behind it all that made it magnetic. The duo didn’t just adapt to pandemic-era limitations; they made them part of the mythology. They weren’t waiting for a moment—they built their own.

They looked like a unit

During the Ungodly Hour era, Chloe x Halle weren’t just in sync musically—they were locked in on what to wear, too. Every look felt like a deliberate extension of their sound: futuristic, femme, and flawlessly unified. From the metallic, angel-like wings on the album cover to their coordinated red-carpet appearances, they dressed like a duo with a singular vision. Whether in sculptural latex during their BET Awards performance, coordinated loc hairstyles, or twin takes on bold colors, they served cohesion without ever looking like carbon copies. It wasn’t a case “who wore it better”—they wore it together, and they wore it well.

The Latest