Eternal Atake
This long-awaited album deserves all the credit it gets, because it is a really great album. The hype around Jesuit was mad. It looks like Uzi spent time and concerted effort on every song. There’s not really one bad song, but there are a couple songs that distinguish themselves for me. To be honest, when I first heard it, I wasn’t really impressed, because Uzi has been a favorite artist for me for a while now; but once I kept listening, the songs really grew on me. His music seems very fast-paced, energetic, almost emphatic in a sense. This is the case on Silly Watch, where we hear a lower tone Uzi and strenuous repetition of watch wordplay. Considering that everyone had high expectations for this album, it probably makes sense that he worked to give off lots of energy, because a boring, fatigued album would disappoint. The beats feel very connected to outer space themes, like You Better Move, which uses samples from Space Cadet Pinball.
Baby Pluto did stand out immediately as a starting track with his fast rapping and the track’s lots of 808s and high hats to give a little kick. As I’m listening to it now, I can feel the vibrations on my speaker. We got previews of songs on the album such as Futsal Shuffle 2020 and That Way, which I really enjoyed listening to. I also spent some time trying to learn the Futsal Shuffle dance. Worth it. The features on the deluxe album also fit with the songs, like Leaders with NAV or Got the Guap with Young Thug. It’s interesting how P2 is essentially a continuation of XO Tour Lif3, almost a mirror that reveals how his relationships have changed over time. I also recommend listening to Celebration Station.
Luv is Rage 2
The songs on here are addicting, just like Eternal Atake. I still mix in songs from this 2017 album, as it approaches its 3-year anniversary. This album is where I think listeners really get the essence of Lil Uzi: good vibes, energy, hype. It has XO Tour Lif3, which has garnered over 1 billion views on Spotify, but I just love The Way Life Goes. While I like the fast flows and clever lines, sometimes it’s nice to hear rappers contemplate their lives like they are one of us. It makes me feel more connected to their music, which is something I think a lot of listeners value in their music: Humanity. A person showing how life hurts for them too. Someone who enjoys us as much as we enjoy him. If Uzi can accentuate that idea through his music, he’s gonna go far.
There are some underrated hits, though. Neon Guts ft. Pharrell Willams is such a bop, and Pharrell’s voice is so smooth. The back and forth between the two works really well! 444+222 is one of those pre-game songs for me, as its super quick tempo and 808s really get players in the zone Similarly, Sauce It Up has a sort of swagger and confidence to it, especially that it’s about his party lifestyle. Finally, 20 Min‘s beat almost entrances you in the song, my mind reliving memories I’ve never had. It really stands out for me.
Lil Uzi Vert Vs. The World
This was the album that really got me into his music, but I feel like it’s not as good as Luv is Rage 2 or Eternal Atake. Don’t get me wrong! There are good songs on here, but his lyrics aren’t very interesting or there’s not much clever wordplay. The beats feel kind of confining, as if he doesn’t really get to creatively express himself. It really just feels like he’s forced to rap, as forcing people to do stuff doesn’t really bode well. I don’t really hear his fast rapping and energy like other albums. He can rap about all the girls and money he has, but that’s not always the way to get an impressive album. Money Longer seems just like a massive bass-booster. You Was Right was a hit, but comparing it to his other songs, it’s a little bit dull. P & Qs is alright, not outstanding. So, it’s an okay album, but he’s certainly upped his game in the past few years.
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