YoungBoy By no means Broke Once more drops albums like most artists share Instagram posts.
The wildly prolific bastion of Baton Rouge has already shared three tasks in 2023: January’s I Relaxation My Case, April’s Don’t Attempt This at Dwelling, and Might’s Richest OppNBA YoungBoy Sounds Stale On ‘Richest Opp’. The albums and mixtapes had been launched to middling acclaim, with every launch carrying various sturdy, emotionally uncooked tracks, and loads of filler. His newest 2023 launch, Determined 2, follows an identical trajectory, floating on the highs of YoungBoy’s infectious supply whereas often being slowed down by tedious raps and empty storytelling.
YoungBoy faucets into his R&B bag all through the mission, imbuing a lot of the report with memorable melodies and a few of his greatest hooks in years. Opener “Free Intercourse” kicks off with a tacky acoustic guitar and synth melody, however the ardour in YoungBoy’s voice provides the tune an simple propulsion and vitality. On the reduce, YoungBoy does his greatest Thugger vocal impression, manipulating his supply to place as a lot emphasis on the way in which he sings because the phrases that come out of his mouth. He yelps, “Since she takin’ my soul/ Now this bitch, she gotta go/ I’m a person, I want management/ Feeling like I’m dying gradual/ And he or she don’t even appear to know.”
YoungBoy additionally gives up some uncooked, deep fried funk that knowledgeable his 2022 launch 3800 Levels. That was one in every of his strongest tasks so far, and it’s good listening to the artist revisit that sound, even when it’s comparatively quick lived on Determined 2. It was additionally one in every of YoungBoy’s shorter efforts at 13 tracks, and it will have been good to see him apply that form of constraint on Determined 2. The frequency and size of his releases turns ‘what’s the objective of a YoungBoy’ album into an existential endeavor. The frequency deems every launch not notably important, particular, or vital.
Determined 2 is an at-times very sturdy mission, and a pleasant approach to present the methods the MC has grown since he dropped Determined in 2018, however at 11 tracks lengthy the primary version is a extra profitable mission. With every sprawling YoungBoy launch, the necessity for high quality management solely grows increased. Determined 2 has no enterprise being 18 tracks.
“Got here A Lengthy Approach” is a robust meditation from YoungBoy on his regrets and needs, an trustworthy have a look at his most susceptible facet. He’s haunted, listening to voices from his lifeless mates that inform him to maintain pushing, maintain stacking, watch out round new faces. He raps, “I finished got here a great distance from up the street/ Daddy up in jail, lengthy methods up the street/ I’m from the streets, my n***a, however my son gained’t be from there/ Spent half my life contained in the streets, I nonetheless don’t even care.” It’s one of many mission’s greatest tracks, and showcases one in every of some ways YoungBoy stretches his voice. He additionally exhibits this versatility on the fashionable blues jam “Now Who.” He strikes between singing and rapping like Drake needs he may, and it’s this stressed experimentation and dexterity that may make Determined 2 so irritating.
“I’m A Demon” seems like YoungBoy couldn’t be bothered to hit the studio to report the monitor, that includes the MC tossing off rehashed bars and matters he’s explored with a lot higher readability. Most annoying is that YoungBoy nearly rescues the tune with a terrific refrain. “Guitar Hero” ought to have been recorded, not to mention included on an album.
With only a bit extra high quality management and thorough enhancing, Determined 2 may very well be one other nice YoungBoy mission. Because it stands now, it’s merely nice, like too lots of the artist’s latest releases.
