Ukrainian-American lyricist Your Previous Droog returning after 2 years for his ninth full-length album. Breaking out by his self-titled debut, many truly first thought he was an alter ego of Nas on condition that their voices are considerably related. He finally turned a legend in his personal proper off later initiatives comparable to Packs in addition to It Wasn’t Even Shut, TIME & the Nicholas Craven-produced YOD Wave. The 4 EPs he’s given us since YOD Stewart, Yodney Dangerfield, The Yodfather & The Shining weren’t as nice for my part but most definitely had their highlights on the identical time. So after taking 2023 off, Droog’s releasing a Film to get summer time rolling.
“Success & Energy” produced by Simply Blaze couldn’t have been a better option of a gap observe from the grand growth bap manufacturing to the lyricism about rappers being in competitors with one another & YOD being in competitors with fish as compared whereas “Crescent Moon” retains the kicks & snares in tact going for a rawer method asking these John Kerry rappers “why the lengthy face?”. Harry Fraud offers “How Do You Do It?” a soulful entice vibe instrumentally admitting that he ought to’ve been the one asking questions when he was youthful simply earlier than the drumless “I Assume I Love Her” talks about a very powerful lady in his life aside from his mom.
La Musica de Bushy Frog returns behind the boards for the luxurious “Mantra” preaching that irrespective of how tough issues could get, something is best than that main into the piano growth bap crossover “Grandmother’s Classes” paying tribute to his personal grandmother. “Mercury Thermometers” needs to be one among my favourite singles constructing as much as the LP since we have now Droog dropping extra jewels than a Harvard lecture over a Conductor Williams beat main into “What Else?” aggressively telling artists to inform their listeners an alternative choice to the cap.
“The Sandbox” retains it growth bap profoundly wanting again on his youthful self having no concept that he was gonna be as massive as he’s within the underground at the moment & after the “Interview” interlude, “3 Milli” thunderously expresses that he’s dwelling so good now to the purpose that all of it feels surreal to him whereas “Yodi Dodi” hooks up some woodwinds with kicks & snares speaking about staying in his personal bubble. After one other “Interview” interlude, “A Rattling Disgrace” maintains that very same power saying a person ain’t full with no lady whereas “DBZ” by Yodlib that includes Denzel Curry & Technique Man was for my part THE strongest single since Madlib’s distinctive ear for samples come to play sampling “Deep Shadow” by Little Ann for a generational barfest.
To start the climax of the Film, the track “Roll Out” radiates jazzy growth bap power from Harry Fraud telling all people that generally they should know when to dip whereas the title observe serves because the album’s official nearer soulfully promising that he’s gonna keep true to himself till the casket falls. “Care Plan” by Yodlib that includes Yasiin Bey quite the opposite is the right bonus observe that YOD himself introduced on Twitter a 12 months & a half in the past persevering with to tease a full Yodlib mission that for my part would feed generations.
YOD Wave is already my favourite EP Droog has ever carried out & though I nonetheless keep the 4 he put out after weren’t as nice as an entire even with their very own particular person highs, his first LP in over 3 years by far needs to be essentially the most I’ve loved a mission from him in over 2. It’s extra nicely produced enhancing on the sounds of jazz rap, growth bap & drumless joined by only some deserving excessive profile visitor spots principally likening the life he’s lived as much as this second to a function size movie.
Rating: 8/10
