Always Strive And Prosper
A$AP Ferg
ALBUM
Still Brazy
YG
ALBUM
The second A$AP Mob album with A$AP somehow worked into the title comes from A$AP Ferg. Much like At.Long.Last.A$AP, Always Strive And Prosper is a more creative and experimental outing than its predecessor. A$AP Ferg really gives this album all he's got. He taps into his most off kilter ideas and executes each one successfully. In fact, the work on this album that even resembles something typical is kind of a letdown. From the opening track, it is clear that Ferg is taking listeners on a journey on this album. The journey that transpires is a very interesting one that says the least. The soundscape erratically leaps from one style to a different style to a "he can do that" style. While that is extremely respectably for Ferg to be able to do, it doesn't exactly create a cohesive and fluent album. Always Strive And Prosper has a lot of people involved as well, which usually means that it's either about to be amazing or going to be carried by the features. Ferg's sophomore effort actually lands closer to the former as there is not one feature that outperforms Ferg on his album. The journey is rewarding at times and awkward at others, but as a whole it's dope. Some of A$AP Ferg's finest lyricism is supported by the best selection of beats that he's ever had. Always Strive And Prosper is the coolest, most personal, and most captivating second album that he could make. It's Ferg in full force. RJ
YG approaches his sophomore album as confident as ever. He sticks to his guns with fitting production that encapsulates the West Coast G-Funk sound. The whole album tip toes and bounces with synths, bells, and drums keeping the album from being too repetitive because the production can start to melt together. YG's performance is very strong. Emotionally, he is never boring, captivating his audience from the very first verse he recites. His flow is varied from track to track, yet he remains confident in every new rhythm he attempts. Content-wise, you get a little bit of everything from the rapper in the bluntest and sometimes most hilarious ways possible. Personal favorite "Gimmie Got Shot" is funny as hell because of how hard it hits home. In "FDT," the DT stands for Donald Trump, so you can just guess what the F stands for. His political awareness is a testament that he makes sure to convey throughout his sophomore outing: you can come from nothing and still know something. While this album isn't as stuffed with radio bait as his first album, Still Brazy shows that YG is still YG. He owns every second of the album, even when his voice is not even audible. His decision to carve out his own lane is more meritorious, because the album is even brazier than the first one. RJ
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