YG - 'Stay Dangerous' Review

YG continues to be a West Coast pioneer. 2014’s My Krazy Life was a bold gangsta rap debut. And 2016’s Still Brazy peered into the soul of a man who cheated death and lived to make an album about it.

On his sophomore LP, he wrestled with paranoia, interrogated the environment he grew up in, reconciled with murders committed by crooked cops, and said “Fuck Donald Trump..." literally on a track, and for an entire tour. It’s a declaration that follows the footsteps of west coast rappers challenging the establishment.

After all of the hood politics and social commentary, YG’s resolve is harder than ever.

He’s feeling indestructible and doesn’t give a damn what you think. There’s not a dull moment on his latest effort, Stay Dangerous. Still Brazy was missing production from close collaborator, DJ Mustard. But together, this pair is as dangerous as it gets. Mustard handles nearly the entirety of the production on Stay Dangerous.

It’s invigorating right from the jump. “10 Times” and “Bulletproof” are hard-nose bangers. YG’s delivery is impeccable, as he maneuvers between the hooks and verses with captivating cadences. “Handgun” follows in the same stead, and Asap Rocky puts in more effort on this verse than he did on Testing.

“Can’t Get Into Kanada” makes use of that infectious repetition that helped propel Cardi B’s “She Bad” to the top of the charts. The pace and flow of this track is the perfect example of why Mustard and YG need to remain a rapper-producer duo. It’s an effortless, grimy banger.

“Big Bank” is a great posse-cut. Each successive rapper ups the ante by individually coming through with bravado. Elsewhere, he and Ty Dolla Sign reconvene for a follow up to their hit on Mr Krazy Life. “Power” with Ty Dolla Sign is a wanton, lustful hit.

Talk about back to back.

But the energy from Still Brazy is still alive. “Deeper Than Rap” and “Bomptown’s Finest” are abrasive and introspective. These beats really set the mood for him to body it. But don’t “judge him off of one verse” in real life he’s “sicker.” He laments the loss of his close friend on the latter track that brings the gangsta life full circle.

Personally, Still Brazy was a better album. It sounds like a west coast album all the way through, and really gives listeners a sense of what it’s like to be in YG’s "Bompton." The writing was more creative, the narratives more intriguing.

YG is a comical storyteller; take for example “Gimme Got Shot.” There’s not much tension like on “I Got A Question” or “Blacks & Browns.” Part of the appeal of his last album’s socio-political input was that it didn’t feel preachy. YG sounded like a disciple, or offspring of Tupac. He’s powerful in this element, but this side of him is absent from Stay Dangerous. It’s slightly disappointing.

Essential Tracks

• “Bulletproof” ft. Jay 305
• “Can’t Get Into Kanada”
• “Slay” ft. Quavo
• “Big Bank” ft. 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Nicki Minaj
• “Power” ft. Ty Dolla Sign
• “Too Brazy” ft. Mozzy
• “Deeper Than Rap”
• “Bomptown Finest”

The Verdict

YG’s third album stays true to its name. This is west coast rap at its finest: vigilant, remorseless, and at the heart of the party. It’s introspective when it needs to be, sweeping with shades of G- Funk, and full of hits.YG and DJ Mustard are modern day poster-boys for this sound, and this album is all the better because of their chemistry. There’s not anything new here compared to his last albums but if it’s not broken, why fix it?

YG’s Stay Dangerous is a B+.

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