And the big hub is…a very trim and expensive mix of tame impala-style psych-rock, A24 synth-pop, loungey R&B, and Silk Sonic-esque funk, a sound that’s so instantly catchy that it doesn’t feel like an experience at all. In 2020, peer yachtsmen of their generation acknowledged, Lil Uzi Vert And Playboi Cartireleased Eternal eating And A whole lotta red: albums that push pre-existing sounds to the point of miraculousness, showcasing not only the artists’ raps but their conceptual vision. Meanwhile, Yachty operates within an already well-defined and commercially successful model. That’s what the monologue was for?
To its credit, Yachty gives outstanding performance on a busy project. It’s the same gift of versatility that makes him a unique rapper: he bounces from style to style without losing his individuality. A less interesting artist could have been rendered anonymous by the polished voices of producers like cable carPatrick Wimberley, Unknown Mortal OrchestraPicture Jacob, pop songwriters Justin and Jeremiah Risen, or tarnish their voice with writing credits that pull together Mac DeMarcoAnd Alex GAnd uh Tory Lanez. Production always tends to be more indulgent than exciting, and more distracting than conceptual. But Yachty himself clings to ideas he’s been struggling to articulate since 2017 Teenage emotions: loneliness, heartbreak, getting over failure. He’s still not a strong enough writer to feature them, and none of the pros collecting checks in the credits seem to have helped much, but his very expressive vocals make up for it.
Indeed, for all the hype about the genre-hopping in this project, the real draw is the ways in which Yachty uses auto-tune and other sound effects as tools to unlock not just sounds but emotion. Building Vocal Wrinkles That Popped In Last Year’s Viral Moment”Poland,” where he appears to coo through a ceiling fan, highlights Let’s start here. His voice extends in unusual directions. The sounds in the background of his sad hook on “pRETTy” sound like he’s trying to coordinate while getting a deep tissue massage. His sharp melodies could have swayed on “Drawing the Sky” The Weeknd on me Dawn FM. The opening line of “running out of time” is like a yachting imitation of Bruno Mars tradition James Brownand the way he can’t hold back his ranting enough to copy it so flawlessly is what makes him so original.
Everything Breaking Bad surrounding his unexpected and adventurous vocal endeavors is pretty conventional. Musical moments that sound like they’re meant to be eerie and psychedelic—a hard rock guitar riff that builds to an exhilarating finale on “Black Cineole.” Or the slow build of “REACH THE SUNSHINE.” – come off as half measures. Diana GordonThe pseudo-driven deceptive funk on “Driving Me Crazy!” He arrives at a superhero record, but other guest appearances, such as FuchsiaIt was clipped on “pRETTy” and Daniel CaesarHis dull howl in the finale, can be forgotten. Nothing ever bad: synths on “Little Sai” flash; The long intro and outro of “We Saw the Sun!” set the lost mood they are supposed to; “Zone~” blooms again and again, highlighting it Justin SkySweet and unhurried melodies. Everything is very easy to digest, so it’s perfect and very safe. Let’s start here. He clearly and badly wants to be hanging on the walls of this bedroom currents And blond And Egor. It might just work too.
Instead, consider this album as a reminder of how limitless rap can be. We are so anxious for the future of this genre to arrive that current sounds are seen as less and less restrained. But rap is whatever you can imagine. I’m thinking of “Poland,” a song stranger than anything here: a straightforward 1:23 mess, as inventive as it is fun. I take this track as seriously as anything I’ve heard in the past year because it sticks to a simple rap melody and pushes it over the edge. Soon enough, another rapper would hear it and take it in another direction, and then another would do the same. This is how you really get to the future.