Hip-hop by no means strays too removed from its roots, and that’s why there’s a little bit of KRS-One on a 2024 Lil Uzi Vert album. On “She Stank,” a largely unremarkable observe through which Uzi expresses his disdain for messing with ladies with less-than-ideal physique odor, Uzi sings a little bit of the refrain of Memphis Cult’s 2023 observe “9mm.” That observe really interpolates its refrain from that of KRS-One’s “9mm Goes Bang,” a observe from Boogie Down Productions 1987 Felony Minded LP. The “Wa-da-da-dang, wa-da-da-da-dang” onomatopoeia goes again even additional to Tremendous Cat’s 1984 reggae hit “Historical past,” a testomony to the lengthy, multicultural historical past of hip-hop and its Afro-Caribbean roots.

For the historical past it showcases, “She Stank” is among the crown jewels of Everlasting Atake 2. For fairly actually every thing else — from the drained drums to the lazy lyrics — it’s one of many album’s worst choices.

High quality management has at all times been Uzi’s Achilles heel, and Everlasting Atake 2 predictably homes quite a lot of tracks that have been higher suited to the chopping block. “Paars within the Mars” — through which Uzi tried to move off 85 repetitions of the phrase “Wock” as a refrain — isn’t a superb tune. Uzi sounds profoundly bored with their very own tune; he rattles off traces that vaguely slot in the identical rhyme scheme (“She from New York, yeah, yeah, she get chopped for cheese/ Skateboard, n—a, zoom, yeah, yeah, she tryna grind for me”) however do nothing to additional develop the album’s idea.

To shut out Everlasting Atake 2, Uzi places the singing to relaxation and will get again to spitting. “They are saying that my lyrics ain’t lyricism, I say that you just simply hating a lot/ I simply need one, two, three, 4, 5, six, seven, eight, 9, ten, eleven, twelve, 13 million proper to Jatavia/ You attempt to say I don’t received swag, however I take a look at your shirt, it appear to be you continue to in Burberry a lot,” he raps within the observe’s sole correct verse of startling sparse snare-laden manufacturing from Cashmere Cat, MCVertt, Trgc & Darkoivx.

It’s a disappointing nearer, one which does little to wrap the mission collectively or supply a conclusion to any of the narrative threads and characters that have been launched from the very first observe.

Typically, album sequels really feel like low cost ploys as a result of the brand new set bears little to no sonic, aesthetic or thematic connection to the unique. “Gentle Yr” ensures Everlasting Atake 2 doesn’t fall sufferer to that entice, by returning to the rapid-fire verses and synth-laden compositions of OG LP. “I ain’t Hollywood, do some shit for my cousin/ That’s what I’m posed to, however that shit wasn’t nothin’/ I simply received a n—successful for like 4 or 5 hundred/ I simply got here from the A with like 4 or 5 buttons,” he spits on the finish of the observe, aligning himself nearer to straightforward hip-hop tropes than the intergalactic actuality TV star he established on the onset of the EA2 rollout.

Apparently, “Gentle Yr” additionally renders “We Good” a half-truth of kinds, because of the road, “I’m recent off the nitrous, ain’t mess up a bit-it.” Clearly, Uzi the Earthling nonetheless has some issues to determine.

“We Good” finds Uzi kicking off Everlasting Atake 2 by casually dropping a bone-chilling nugget of fact. “Yeah, new contract, I learn mines/ They stated I used to be misplaced/ They thought I used to be a lifeless man/ I used to be on that NOS,” he spits over a whirring, raucous beat courtesy of Cashmere Cat and WondaGurl. “NOS,” after all, refers to nitrous oxide, extra generally referred to as laughing fuel, a substance that followers speculated Uzi to be utilizing within the lead-up to Everlasting Atake 2.

Together with his cavalier supply, his use of previous tense in reference to NOS, and his repeated guarantees of “Mama, swear we good,” Everlasting Atake 2’s opener showcases an Uzi who is raring to hit the reset button and spin the block on days much less marred by controversy and questionable life decisions. He sounds frantic right here, as if he’s clawing his method again to a model of his previous self. Regardless of the tepidly obtained Pink Tape and his alleged laughing fuel use, Uzi needs to make it very clear that he’s not a “lifeless man.” Who can resist blatant course correction over a hearth beat?

Options have develop into ridiculously political in recent times, and for the only collaboration on Everlasting Atake 2, Uzi seemed previous his contemporaries and as a substitute recruited…. Massive Time Rush. Sure, that Massive Time Rush, of Nickelodeon fame.

Sonically, “The Rush” would have been way more fascinating if Uzi did a post-Pink Tape tackle the group’s pop-rock boy band sound or sampled one among their greatest hits. As a substitute, Massive Time Rush seems firstly for a little bit of dialogue (“Dude, you’re not Massive Time Rush/ We’re Massive Time Rush”) earlier than they fully disappear for the rest of the observe. “The Rush,” as catchy as it’s, is clearly an instance of Uzi having a sensible wordplay thought and utilizing his celeb and capital to tug off a stunt collaboration. Not that Massive Time Rush and Lil Uzi Vert would have crafted a Stevie Surprise-level opus, however you may’t assist however really feel that each one events concerned left quite a bit on the desk with this idea — a working theme all through Everlasting Atake.

With boilerplate braggadocious, womanizing lyrics over an ominous entice beat, “Meteor Man” retains Everlasting Atake 2 according to its predecessor. It’s a effective Uzi tune, if not a predictable one, however the nauseating “that is an aura” hook feels so shamelessly designed for TikTok slideshows that the tune satirically loses any “aura” of its personal. If you may get previous that bit, “Meteor Man” is a enjoyable, cosmic tackle a “pump your chest” anthem — one which finds him injecting up to date rap’s most mundane tropes with refined notes of glitchy digital music.

Charlie Puth’s manufacturing on a rap ballad predicated on Percocet/perky intercourse wordplay? Certain, why not?! “PerkySex” solutions the query: what if Everlasting Atake 2 period Uzi made a gradual jam that pulled from up to date pop as a lot because it does from Jersey membership? Whether or not they’re making like to the medication, their companion, or each on the identical time, Uzi sounds equally honest in each state of affairs. And that’s actually a way more spectacular feat to tug off as a result of it’s solely reliant on the emotional heft of his vocal supply.

Robert Goddard — the American engineer credited with creating and constructing the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket — would in all probability be very flattered by “Goddard Track.” Comprised of Younger Thug-esque moans and melodious, atmospheric manufacturing, “Goddard Track” finds Uzi doubling down on his eccentricities and idiosyncracies and not using a care on the planet. “I might break down the swag, however I don’t even wanna give it up,” they remind us. Even when it doesn’t land, there’s nobody in hip-hop doing it fairly like Uzi — and nobody actually can, as they use the intro to remind us. “Should you put it on the Web, somebody’s gonna hate it!”

Is it predictable that some of the somber Everlasting Atake 2 songs is titled “Black Gap?” Completely, however it’s nonetheless one of many extra fascinating moments on the file. Right here, Uzi dips their toe right into a pool of melancholy however stops in need of going any deeper. “I don’t wanna f–okay, that’s a lay-up/ It’s a setup ’trigger I’m one among one/ Bought two weapons, however I’m one among one/ Yeah, they know that I’m by no means completed/ Got here again with my second run,” they spit, permitting a quick second to mull over their fears of being “trapped” by way of being pregnant and the evolution of their relationship with intercourse earlier than flexing a victory lap. As is the case with far too many songs on the album, Uzi might and will have delved even additional into these self-effacing moments.

In fact, the Younger Thug shoutout should even be talked about — particularly contemplating he gained again his freedom the identical day Everlasting Atake 2 dropped. “I’m from Philly, however it’s nonetheless free Slime,” Uzi proclaims.

Launched by twinkling piano keys, Uzi offers his opps hell on “Lyft Em Up.” “Most of those n—as, they suppose that I’m female ’trigger I simply stroll with a change/ You see my pockets? Bitch, they fats, the other of Ozempic/ Lil Uzi Vert, yeah, I nonetheless be in them trenches/ You’d suppose Lil Ho my lil’ cousin method I received all this Lululemon,” he spits over a booming entice beat.

Their circulate right here is nice and the “I deal with the Maybach truck prefer it’s a Lyft/ Please don’t get lifted” wordplay is slick, however Uzi’s reliance on repetition (the third verse is similar two bars rapped twice in a row) stunts the potential of those songs — particularly his verses. From the “Uzi the Earthling” theme to the album’s visuals, there’s an entire world to unpack on Everlasting Atake 2 that Uzi largely chooses to disregard outdoors of surface-level references, and that’s irritating to listen to from an artist who has such grand visions. Not less than “Lyft Em Up” finds Uzi actively conjuring the power and swagger of the OG Everlasting Atake’s most rap-forward songs.

Everlasting Atake 2 could be an inconsistent effort, however when the pendulum swings in Uzi’s favor, the extent of high quality is at all times top-notch. Full with opulent horns and manufacturing that revels in how grand it feels, “Mr Chow” — which takes its title from the gloriously hedonistic antagonist of the Hangover trilogy — instantly transports Uzi to 2020. It’s a triumphant observe that reminds us that Uzi can nonetheless faucet into the power of Everlasting Atake regardless of the brand new file’s sloppier moments.

Uzi embraced a “Mr Chow” alter ego final 12 months, writing on their Instagram Story: “Chow understands folks don’t like [the] methods of Chow. However Chow don’t give a f**okay. Chow wealthy and by no means look again. Suck my monkey tail. Leslie out.” Hedonism is one among Uzi’s greatest modes; each the character of Mr. Chow and the plush soundscape of “Mr. Chow” permit him ample room to discover simply how darkish and garish he can get. “I be forgettin’ my time zones/ I’m on the Okay with the X and I flex/ I have to admit that I’m gone,” he spits.

Pink Tape discovered Uzi taking part in round with punk, nu metallic and arduous rock to middling outcomes, so it wasn’t completely shocking that guitars are largely absent on Everlasting Atake 2. Nonetheless, they harness the softest acoustic pop edges of the guitar for “Immodest,” a downtempo rap ballad that continues the again half of the album’s preoccupation with working via the mess that’s Uzi’s romantic life.

The true gem right here is the refrain, an earnest, pop-punk-informed hook that pulls from a post-Juice WRLD gloominess infused with Auto-Tuned R&B vocal stacks. “You solely name me when it’s all dangerous/ I fall for you and I ain’t name again/ However my respect for you, I misplaced that,” he wails. It’s borderline prison that Uzi hid the album’s best-crafted pop tune and refrain because the penultimate observe on an album stuffed with unimpressive hooks, however at the very least they included it on the album in any respect.

If ever there was a tune particularly designed to be blasted in state-of-the-art automotive audio system, it’s “Chips and Dip.” From the blaring, maxed-out bass to their use of a melodic supply to color throughout the sparser bits of the tune’s manufacturing earlier than guaranteeing their enunciation correctly enhances the observe’s extra percussive moments, “Chips and Dip” finds Uzi virtually levitating on the observe.

“How the f–okay he my enemy and his essential automotive is a ’63?/ And I heard that that b—h a lease and your essential broad drive a Mitsubishi/ Lil Uzi Vert, I’m applyin’ stress/ Equipment on the Glock, received a 5 vector,” he spits, choosing a brasher strategy to match the observe’s total high-octane really feel.

When Uzi locks in, they’re unstoppable. For the easy indisputable fact that they lastly eschew their reliance on mind-numbing repetition, “Not an Choice” is among the greatest songs on Everlasting Atake 2. Over a brooding, ascending synths that really feel like a digitized, futuristic tackle the melodramatic strings of a Roman epic soundtrack, Uzi seamlessly suits right into a barely staccato pocket through which he can ship extra rapid-fire raps earlier than choosing a extra melodic, rap-sung strategy within the second verse. Their capacity to rework their tone and use totally different filters to fully reconfigure their voice ought to make each Uzi observe really feel thrilling and limitless — “Not an Choice” is the closest Everlasting Atake 2 will get to that feeling throughout its first half.

With its Drake-esque pleas to “please don’t do probably the most proper now” and decidedly pop&B groove, “Chill Bae” might be the perfect shot Everlasting Atake 2 has at scoring successful, therefore its official music video dropping alongside the album launch. Paying homage to the mid-2010s Uzi — maybe the time they greatest understood the way to mix their most impulsive musical urges with the place the mainstream was — “Chill Bae” is apologetic, confessional and refreshingly human.

“After I hit you up, you at all times hit ignore proper now/ And I don’t undеrstand why you mad on the boy proper now/ ‘Trigger I do know you wouldn’t need me, I used to be poor proper now/ Tears on my face, they droppin’ and so they pour proper down,” he raps within the first verse, granting us a little bit of entry to the particular person behind the otherworldly characters and ideas. It’s the primary time on the album — outdoors of the laughing fuel references — that Uzi offers us a peek into what precisely is happening of their head at this level of their life and profession. Just like “I’m Sorry and “That Manner” from the primary Everlasting Atake and its deluxe version, “Chill Bae” is a successful addition to Uzi’s rap ballad cannon.