From jail, YNW Melly drops “Young New Wave.”
STREAM
TOP 5
5. In The Benzy (Ft. Lil 50 & BreezyLYN)
NBA YoungMelly?
I can absolutely see NBA YoungBoy murdering the “In The Benzy” beat. It has that menacing, uptempo Louisiana vibe that he usually f**ks with. Unfortunately, we don’t get a verse from YB in the song; however, we do get to hear YNW Melly shine. Melly hits us with a carefree, hella catchy chorus with good energy and a verse that sounds like a glorified freestyle. Lil 50 and BreezyLYN close out the track with impressive verses. The former sounds like a gassed-up, southern 42 Dugg, while the latter sounds like a woman that has shooters and sex appeal. All in all, I rock with this fun track.
4. Fix That
I’m a major fan of the carefree tone that YNW Melly adopts in “Fix That.”
Contrary to popular belief, in many of YNW Melly’s tracks, he approaches singing quite seriously. It’s somewhat uncommon to hear him adopt a relaxed demeanor. However, in “Fix That,” he certainly takes a more laid-back approach. The track is propelled by a booming beat with subtle nuances, as YNW Melly discusses cuffing girls who aren’t his, indulging in Cinnabons, and spending time with authentic gangbangers. While he predominantly sings throughout the track, his style leans towards being assertive rather than emotional, and playful rather than serious.
3. Save Me (Ft. YNW BSlime, Jit4 Stan & Ynw4L)
Who the f**k is cutting onions in the courtroom?
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: YNW Melly ranks among the greatest rap singers ever. His voice carries weight, and I admire the passion he infuses into his performances. In “Save Me,” Melly delivers another compelling vocal display. Set against a backdrop of dramatic beats and haunting piano notes, his soulful delivery captivates, blurring the line between a figure named Demons and an angelic presence. YNW BSlime and Jit4 Stan complement Melly’s contribution with their own raw and introspective verses.
This song’s chorus would make me cry if I weren’t so evil.
2. 772 Love Pt. 3 (Your Love) (Ft. YNW BSlime & Ynw4L)
“772 Love Pt. 3 (Your Love)” has an elite chorus.
One admirable aspect of YNW Melly is his fearlessness in creating love songs. In many of his past tracks, he unapologetically expresses his feelings for women. “772 Love Pt. 3” is no exception. In the song, Melly expresses his intense love for his girl, to the point where he struggles to function when she’s not around. He also encourages her to block out external distractions as they strive for success beyond the limits of Victor Wembanyana’s wingspan. YNW BSlime contributes an excellent verse that also embraces a romantic and affectionate tone.
1. Ville (Ft. YNW Melly & YNW BSlime)
F**k it, go ahead and throw J. Cole on this s**t!
We initially tuned in for YNW Melly, but let’s be real: YNW BSlime steals the show on this album. His growth as an artist is undeniable and commendable. In “Ville,” he delivers his strongest performance to date. Throughout the track, set against a decorative beat, BSlime touches on his loyalty to his crew, the lavish possessions in his arsenal, and the vigilance required as he navigates his hood. While his lyrics resonate with me, his flawless chorus, captivating melodies, and seamless transitions between styles truly shine.
YNW BSlime is a superstar.
SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN
1. Fix That (4/5)
2. Top Off (Ft. YNW Melly, YNW BSlime & YNW SmokeDaLoc) (3.5/5)
3. Friendly (Ft. YNW Melly, Ynw4L & Jit4 Stan) (3/5)
4. In The Benzy (Ft. YNW Melly, Lil 50 & BreezyLYN) (3.5/5)
5. 772 Love Pt. 3 (Your Love) (Ft. YNW Melly, YNW BSlime & Ynw4L) (4.5/5)
6. Save Me (Ft. YNW Melly, YNW BSlime, Jit4Stan & Ynw4L) (4/5)
7. Unannounced (Ft. YNW Melly, YNW SmokeDaLoc, Ynw4L & SCY Jimm) (2.5/5)
8. 3 Pointer (Ft. YNW Melly, Jit4 Stan, Lil Poppa & Ynw4L) (3.5/5)
9. Ville (Ft. YNW Melly, YNW Blime & Ynw4L) (5/5)
10. Lovey Dovey (Ft. YNW Melly, YNW Bortlen, Ynw4L & Toosii) (3/5)
11. Dedication (Ft. YNW Melly, YNW Bortlen, Ynw4L & Hotboii) (3.5/5)
RGM RATING
(C-) (72%)
I was somewhat taken aback by the relatively low final grade I gave to this album. Despite that, I genuinely enjoyed listening to this project. Below, I’ll share my thoughts on the album’s positives and negatives.
The hooks on this album are undeniably excellent. Whether Melly takes the soulful route in “772 Love Pt. 3 (Your Love)” or delivers playful vibes as he does in “In The Benzy,” he consistently serves up thoroughly enjoyable hooks. In fact, the standout aspect of this project is undoubtedly the hooks.
I like the production we get on this album. While I wouldn’t necessarily classify any of the beats as top-tier, I’m a fan of the dramatic vibes many of them exude. Additionally, I thoroughly enjoyed the NBA YoungBoy-like beat featured in “In The Benzy.” It’s refreshing to hear another artist tackle that style with their own unique spin.
I typically don’t gravitate towards collaboration albums, mainly because they often feature a plethora of random artists. However, in this album’s case, while it does include various individuals, I genuinely believe each artist performs admirably within their allotted time. What stands out is how well they emulate Melly’s mindset and tone, forging cohesive partnerships throughout the project. Among all the contributors, BSlime left the strongest impression on me. He demonstrated remarkable versatility and showcased a commendable singing voice.
Another noteworthy aspect that deserves recognition is how Young New Wave doesn’t sound like a project created from jail. YNW Melly’s strong presence throughout the album is palpable, and his verses flow seamlessly without any choppiness. This could arguably be the most impressive aspect of the album.
So, what didn’t I like about Young New Wave? Well, for starters, I noticed some of the tracks had slightly low audio quality, detracting from the overall listening experience. Additionally, there were instances where the lyrics felt overly simplistic, with some forgettable verses scattered throughout the album. Another aspect that stood out to me was the lack of star power on certain tracks, which may have failed to captivate more casual listeners. But then again, who cares about the casuals, right?
YNW Melly’s legacy refuses to be washed away. This project will again show you that he has “it.” Apparently, so does BSlime.
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
