Month: January 2019

Recently, Lil Uzi Vert came onto social media to tell the public and his fans specifically that he was ‘done’ with music and that he had ‘deleted everything’ (referring to his upcoming album Eternal Atake). All of this was done in frustration with his record label, and while it’s unknown if he really deleted his new material, and unlikely that he’s really finished, I thought it would be an appropriate time to look back on his discography. Here’s some of the most iconic songs from Uzi’s career thus far.

Note: I’m not including snippets, leaks, etc. Everything compiled is from mixtapes/albums you could find on Apple Music or Spotify (official releases). Also, this list is in no specific order of quality, just a compilation of defining tracks.

Money Longer

The third track off of Lil Uzi Vert Vs. The World, ‘Money Longer’ is one of the songs that allowed for Uzi’s blow-up into the mainstream. The catchy hook along with the bass-boosted instrumental pair nicely for a very original sound that defined 2016. Not to mention, the music video for the track was a huge hit for its flashiness and quirky personality, currently sitting at over 130 million plays on YouTube. Not too shabby.

XO TOUR Llif3

Inspired by the troubles Uzi was going through while touring with the Weeknd, ‘XO TOUR Llif3’ is one of Uzi’s sadder songs in his discography, however it’s still a party anthem. Great production from TM88 set the stage for Uzi’s whines, howls, and, of course, his monster hook (all my friends are dead!). The track was one of the biggest hits of 2017, as well as the lead single to Uzi’s first official album, Luv is Rage 2. Certainly a major success for the Philly native.

Do What I Want

‘Do What I Want’ was another one of Uzi’s singles that helped boost him to superstardom in 2016. The upbeat instrumental fazing in and out compliments the bass great, creating a bombastic sound that is always a headturner. Then there’s Uzi, his shrill voice chanting “now I do what I want” over and over again until you finally start saying it back. Put this song on to get any party going.

7 AM

Off of the first Luv is Rage, ‘7 AM’ helped to generate noise around Uzi’s first commercial mixtape. The dark, atmospheric instrumental fades into a rhythmic banger, with Lil Uzi telling the tale of his night with a girl (specifically his longtime girlfriend Brittany). The song was the start of a series of songs revolving the two, and its a collection of tracks that Uzi fans cherish deeply.

Ps and Qs

Another song off of Lil Uzi Vert Vs. The World, ‘Ps and Qs’ is one of the most Uzi-ish songs there could be. The poppy instrumental, the sing-style rapping, the infectious hook: all classic Lil Uzi staples. The song also had a very popular music video, currently sitting at over 50 million views on YouTube. Alongside ‘Money Longer’ and ‘Do What I Want’, this track helped make Uzi what we know him as today.

In the genre of trap, there are a few names that jump out right away: Gucci Mane, Young Thug, 21 Savage, and of course, Future. However, the last-mentioned artist seemed pretty quiet in 2018 after a monster year prior with smash hits “Mask Off” and “Coming Out Strong” with the Weeknd. Sure, he had a collab mixtape with Juice WRLD as well as a follow-up mixtape to Beastmode, but there was no full-length album from the astronaut kid. Now that we’ve entered a new year once again, though, it seems as if Future is right back in stride.

Earlier this week, Mr. Hendrxx released his highly-anticipated album The WIZRD, and it was well worth the wait with 20 tracks clocking in at a little over an hour of material. Despite the usual filler attributed to a tracklist of this length, the album feels very complete with each song delivering a unique set of drug-laced flows and lyrics with punchy production. Songs like “Faceshot” and “Crushed Up” reminisce of Future’s earlier work while still sounding fresh and new. Overall, the energy of the project is always at 100%, with Pluto belting out chants and choruses. On “Jumpin on a Jet” Future’s constant repetition of ‘jumpin’ on and off the jet’ becomes hypnotic, tying in well with the themes of trapping and intoxication. “Temptation” is a much moodier and depressed track without sacrificing liveliness. Most of this can be attributed to Future’s much improved singing voice, which actually molds nicely with his rapping and adds a whole new dimension to his sound.

Surprisingly for a trap album, the WIZRD is very scarce of features, with only Young Thug, Gunna, and Travis Scott taking verses. All three add a refreshing element in their own way, with Young Thug and Gunna sounding as energetic as ever and Travis Scott spitting on one of his best guest appearances in a while. Along with the features, the producer list has a huge impact on the success of this album. Innovators like Southside, Tay Keith, and Wheezy all have their hands in on this one, providing the hazy atmosphere for Future to work in. Tracks like “Goin Dummi”, “Call the Coroner”, and “Overdose” show off the skill of these beatmakers the best, demonstrating their creativity with samples, sounds, and effects.

Overall, Future’s latest project delivers on all fronts, providing fans with the usual bangers while sounding fresh and clean. As if the past decade hasn’t already showed this enough, we have most likely not heard the last of Future in 2019, and I am excited to see what else he has planned and how he will grow in the coming year.

Now that 2018 has come to a close, many people have already began speculating what will come out of the music scene in the year to come. Artists like Lil Uzi Vert (possibly), Playboi Carti, the Weeknd, and others have already hinted at dropping projects in the near future. However, before we get too ahead of ourselves with what’s in store, it’s necessary to acknowledge the great string of records, singles, and collaborations of 2018 that were all generated from one man: Kanye West.

The last 365 days of rap were dominated entirely by West, having made two of the year’s best albums in Ye and Kids See Ghosts alongside Kid Cudi, as well as projects he produced like Pusha T’s Daytona and Nas’s Nasir. Kanye was also responsible for many of the year’s top tracks, such as 6ix9ine’s “MAMA” and “I Love It” with Lil Pump. In 2018, Mr. West made himself the most relevant person in the music scene, having had appearances with everyone from the up-and-comers to the vets of the genre, all while holding his own on a song with the same personality and wit he’s always had. After all that, he’s not done yet; an album previously slated for a September 2018 release under the name Yandhi is still in the works and expected to drop in 2019. While none of the material from the Yandhi recordings may still be on Ye’s project (as he is infamous for his perfectionism and the changes that come with it), it’s clear that at the age of 41 he’s showing no signs of stopping any time soon. So what does this mean for the rap genre as a whole?

Having been many changes in the genre with the advent of Soundcloud, streaming, and the mainstream success of trap, there has been just as much tumultuousness. Artists being arrested, committing suicide, or battling drug abuse among other things has become a huge problem in the music scene as a whole, let alone rap. Many of these new artists, some of which are as young as 17-18 years old, may have the musical talent or attraction to become famous, but aren’t really prepared for what that lifestyle has in store. This is where veterans of music like Kanye are needed; they provide a rock of stabilization to the industry, becoming a voice of familiarity and guidance to others. Many musicians are forgotten just as soon as they blow up, especially in the internet age where singles can accrue millions of streams in a day. With longstanding artists like Kanye, Jay-Z, and others still making popular music, it only goes to show how much we should appreciate these innovators and their material before they’re gone.