For someone to appreciate Tyga’s sophomore effort Careless World: Rise of the Last King, they must first admire the Compton rapper’s unyielding patience for the albums’ release. As would be predicted, Careless World encountered its share of delays, a common corollary for today’s emcee. Despite being a member of Young Money first, one setback he may not have envisioned was the immediate prosperity achieved by label mates Drake and Nicki Minaj, which subsequently pushed back his chance for big time exposure.
To his credit, Tyga spent the next three years in between albums discovering a musical maturation that far exceeds anything heard on “No Introduction.”
Whether he’s calmly calculating his position in Hip Hop with “Black Crowns” or trading opulent bars with the likes of wordsmiths Wale and Nas on “King & Queens,” T-Raw provides lyrical fortitude for the weary. Over the lavishly-styled “This Is Like,” Tyga also sheds away his “Coconut Juice” appeal for a glass of Dom Pérignon. With Robin Thicke’s smooth vocals accentuating the mood, it’s the type of record that may come as a surprise from the 22-year-old, however the execution is undeniable.
Of course, this isn’t to say that Tyga strays away from the shameless cuts on Careless World. His lewd ode “Rack City” sits as a raunchy anchor for the perverted halfway through the album and “Faded” delivers exactly what the title would suggest. In each of these instances he plays the shallow crass role, putting an emphasis on late-night theatrics with bass-throbbing production acting as the party’s heartbeat. The Nicki Minaj-assisted “Muthafucka Up” provides a more boastful Tyga, and you can subtlety hear Weezy’s influence in his rhymes (“Niggas softer than baby hair / Why you acting tough, heard you work at Build-A-Bear”). This Young Money kinship will be a telling theme for Tyga in future releases, and the results here appropriately satisfy to a degree.
With 18 full tracks on hand, Tyga evidently had a difficult time condensing his album, and to be quite honest it’s a move that could have been justified had each record been integral to the project’s overall quality. However, there are a handful of moments where the listener can imagine an imposing A&R constructing a ‘formula’ for success, an approach that rarely ends well. Straight out of 2006, “Celebration” grimly warrants a mention, while “Potty Mouth” is only saved by Busta Rhymes’ fist-of-fury of delivery. Then on “Lay You Down,” Tyga attempts to paint a thuggish background, though the casual listener can tell his heart would more than likely pump Kool-Aid if shit were to hit the fan.
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Careless World perfectly reflects Tyga and the creative traits that he possesses. It’s serious when necessary, occasionally triumphant, and impressive enough that you have to consider him a force to be reckoned with. Likewise, it’s flawed, which is an indication that Tyga has the opportunity to elevate his skills. And with the progress he’s made in the last few years, it’s clear that Tyga won’t have to take the proverbial backseat anymore.
