Yg Tells a Story with His New Tribute Album “4REAL 4REAL”

Some artists are in a lane of their own completely. They make music for a certain group of people and if you like it that's great, but if you don’t, thats cool because it wasn't for you anyways. This is the exact situation YG has been in since he stepped foot in the rap industry. He is as LA as it get and it comes through in his music. He honors the old G Funks sounds of California that have existed for years and reps his red flag unapologetically receiving love from many for it. He has proved that he can deliver hits for years and with the releases of My Krazy Life back in 2014 and Still Brazy in 2016 he showed that he could also make quality albums. Since then he has been trying to regain the momentum he had coming off those two projects, but it has proved to be difficult. 2018’s STAY DANGEROUS had anthems like “TOO COCKY” and “BIG BANK”, but the body of work as a whole was largely seen as a disappointment. YG will always have a loyal fan base and respect at least on the west coast, but 4REAL 4REAL is bigger than him. The album was released in memory of Nipsey Hussle whose untimely passing took a toll on many especially YG. The two had grown very close, and because of the YG made sure that his project touched on him and all that he did for the community he loved so much.

The most difficult part of the album for me as a listener was getting past the first song. “Hard Bottoms & White Socks” is one of the better tracks YG has put out in recent memory. There is sort of cut throat yet calm approach to the track that really allows YG’s storytelling ability to shine. The beat is very minimal and and the piano in the background sounds beautiful. These more thoughtful moments on the album prove to be the highlights of the project. As mentioned before this album was dedicated to Nipsey Hussle, so 4REAL 4REAL really give YG an opportunity to be more personal than he has ever been. Though he is still able to deliver incredible club bangers like “Bottle Service” and “I Was on the Block”, he lets know what going behind his braggadocios exterior. The aforementioned “I Was on the Block” shows YG teaming up with two of the more unique voices in the industry right now in Valee and Boogie. He takes this as an opportunity to get more adventurous with his flow and it works to benefit.

Something that should be noted about 4REAL 4REAL is that songs are rarely ever bad completely, but they do at times falter near the middle or just become boring at a certain point. An example of this would be the track “Go Loko”, which was released before the album came out. The Spanish guitar sounds incredible and YG and Tyga each deliver solid verses, but the track drags on for too long and the Jon Z verse isn't necessary. YG could have really taken this project as a chance to create a great concept album that not only paid tribute to the legacy of Nipsey Hussle, but also that was just an accurate depiction of what actually happens day to day in Los Angeles. A song like “Her Story” is a good example of what the whole album could have sounded like. The song shows Day Sulan discussing the struggles of a young girl living in the streets. The production is vintage with a modern twist and makes the listener feel like they are watching a movie unfold in front of them. Tracks like this are scattered throughout the album and are what give it a lot of character, but they are far from the norm. A song like “Do Not Disturb”, aside from Kamaiyah great contributions, sounds like a track YG might have done two years ago and his rapping seems almost uninspired. This is the same thing that track like “In the Dark” also suffers from. YG is still the same gangster he used to be, but now it just seems like he might have more to say and he is holding himself back.

4REAL 4REAL is an album with a lot of potential. YG is smarter than a lot of people give him credit for, and he should start showing his intelligence more in his music. When he takes the time to tell a story or paint a picture he is able to to do it vividly and with genuine emotion. There were times while listening when I really felt like I was getting a glimpse into what YG’s true inner thought and feeling were and it is what kept me interested. That is why when he deviates away from this he almost feels out of place on his own track. Whether it is the fact that he may have used a similar beat before or that he has talked about stripper hoes and money for so many years, the simple reason that these tracks won't connect like others do is that YG has matured. He hasn't lost his spark or energy, instead he is just now better when he is focused on more pressing topics. Nothing hits harder on 4REAL 4REAL than when YG talks about Nipsey. The pain, admiration, and love can all be felt at the same time and those moments are what leave me wanting more of that emotion on more songs from him. Though not his best work, the west coast legend came through with a few great songs that will echo down the streets of LA till the end of the summer and beyond.