Around this time last year, YG was dangerously close to becoming a hashtag and photocopied image on a t-shirt when he was shot while recording his sophomore studio album Still Brazy in a Studio City, CA studio. The incident left the already hardened Tree Top Piru with a coveted bragging right for many a untalented rapper but he immediately dismissed the subsequent press blitz by telling the world “it don’t matter” when asked who he assumed the failed marksman to be.
The preposterous quote is a complete about face on the unnerving sentiment found on “Who Shot Me?”, the most engrossing track found on Still Brazy. Over a haunting DJ Swish instrumental that employs a creeping bassline dancing over guitar licks that heighten the cinematic effect, YG flexes a newfound penchant for storytelling when he relives his (most recent) brush with death: “I’m talking pictures on the shirt/When the shots went off I thought the spot was deserted/But nah everybody in the spot was just nervous/I don’t like that/Nah, I don’t like that we can’t go right back” before reverting back to an artic-cold demeanor with lyrics like “Niggas ain’t do no damage though/Nigga bounced up that muthafuckin’ hospital/That same night, walked that shit off.”
Which ultimately outlines while Still Brazy now reigns as Keenon Daequan Ray Jackson’s defining body of work. It isn’t a dubious statement to proclaim how its predecessor — 2014’s My Krazy Life — earned its placement amongst other California classics and while DJ Mustard’s absence is periodically felt throughout the 17-track project (see the plodding keys of the lifeless Drake and Kamaiyah-featured “Why You Always Hatin?” for example), it’s YG’s unfiltered honesty and gruff baritone that helps move the decent batch of Left Coast production right along. Lead single, the breezy “Twist My Fingaz,” may have missed its chance to be placed in the G-Funk Hall of Fame due to lack of commercial airplay but the (lack of) visibility doesn’t overshadow its A-1 ability of being hard enough for the thugs but chill enough for ladies to dance to. The flawless record will also go down as the moment YG sprayed his name on the wall with krimson Krylon and distanced himself from being boxed in as he spits “Hold up, I really got something to say/I’m the only one who made it out the west without [Dr.] Dre/I’m the only one that’s about what he say/The only one that got hit and was walking the same day.”
It was a given that YG would keep his affairs strictly hood and passing out floss flagging violations, coping with paranoia and crooked cops round out the table of contents throughout the album. Bye Felecia’s with their hands out get the shaft on the feel-good “Gimmie Got Shot” while the kickoff track, “Don’t Come to LA,” elicits grimaces as YG and the entire 400 block warn on the dangers of thinking even the nicer avenues of the city are without risks. YG’s lyricism is nimble and straightforward but if there is any area that could use an improvement, it’s the song construction. Nipsey Hussle campaigns on “FDT (an acronym for what else but “Fuck Donald Trump”?) and pinpoints the hood’s perspective on the diarrhea-mouthed politician but the simple chorus (of what else but “Fuck Donald Trump”?) isn’t as poetic in a song as it would be screamed at one of his rally’s. “Word is Bond” falls into the same category as the chorus gets stuck on the same record groove with no intent to keep it diverse.
Despite such lapses in creativity, YG still earns high marks for his ability to be the voice of the streets and fulfill his destiny as a trusted spokesmen for all its inhabitants, like say a Tupac Shakur before him. (Yeah, we went there; deal with it.) Still Brazy is a testament that real-life experience breeds the best music but we can do without the shootouts from this point on. We need you alive YG to fully realize your potential because it’s nothing short of incredible.
I fux with it.
This n*gga Flop!!!!!
You a Dumbass bitch YG400! On tree top piru this album great!
absolutely hilarious how this website gave krazy life only 3 stars and its far more superior album to this one but this one is good and at least you are catching up. And Drake’s verse is dope. stop hatin
Nice flop wtf u talking bout
I enjoyed my krazy life YG killed that shit gotta give this a listen
#supportHemusic, great album
Blassic
In many ways, Still Brazy sounded the same as My Krazy Life, but actually it was a big improvement. I think it’s an album that’ll last long. He and Mustard have brought the G-Funk back to young generation’s playlist and they’ve done it really nice. Connection of the songs through skits, the overall sound, YG’s flows and style, everything. is. West. And in 2016, finally, YG is a better representative of the west than Snoop Dogg.
Except the fact mustard had nothing to do with this album you Fuckin moron.
West west it up .
Great Album
Straight fire. Gangster shit. People said YG colidir do it without DJ Mustard. They where Wrong. At least 6-7 heavy tracks. About 3 more than most albums out nowadays.
Trash
Great album!
Honestly this is a shameful level of Dick Riding TMF is the shit , but can trent sans west coast bias (because we out west know where your hq is ) say this is better than anything we heard from Mozzy/Philthy,Future, is this really more of a TRUE effort than Masta Ace album Mistah FAB latest release? Bet My old hoe last trap Q shit will be More inspired #MoreMurderDog #TheOldSource
YG bringin that real west coast flavor! Said fuck mianstrem he doin his own thang. FoHunnid! Album fire af tho ????????????????
Album sounds ike his first nothing special. He talks tough but he knows that Gucci Mane will whoop his ass. Gucci is the realest rapper ever.
No 2pac is the realest so Fuck Gucci YG is that nigga with Dope music! But this album is great
No 2pac is the realest so Fuck Gucci YG is that nigga with Dope music! But this album is great
That aint my picture. Why trying to act funny HHDX?
Gucci is wack as fuck dude sound worse then Biggie
Gucci is wack as fuck dude sound worse then Biggie
YG Album aint better than Game Album. CEDAR BLOCK BOMPTON ALLDAY.
This nigga is straight up garbage! cant even make elementary rhymes! all the beats sound the same! absolute trash music.
Your not 2pac
Shit is FLAMEZ on P’z on P’z. W17P W21P 31xx S/SP TownLine ¢K hK sK lK 777%
I listen to it almost everyday
Definitely west coast album all the way through. Idk why they ain’t give this album a classic, I know the sound is old school, but to be able to do that in this era of hip hop? Man he really did put us in a time machine, don’t come to la, word is bond, gimme got shot, she wish she was. Just them beats alone and his lyrics and hooks, epic album to me definitely in time for summer.
Most kids now a days want singing rappers, or edm type beats. But some of us miss that old school style. ???????????? 4.5 out of 5
yuuup
20 year olds shouldn’t try to do old school gangsta rap. Beats are terrible. The hooks are Terrible. The rhymes are terrible. At least on his last album the tracks were catchy. YG needed mustard on this one.
Please Please Tell Me Why You Always Hatin’
I bought this album it’s even better than his debut nothing negative for me to say it was worth my money
Fire af????
This shit brazy
I’m sorry I just can’t get into this guy. I’m not saying he’s wack but he’s not a lyrical beast. He gets a star for the fuck Donald trump song though. If I want west coast rap with lyricism I’ll fuck with Game.
this is a street album..hood shit..fuck all that lyrical bs that just sounds good..
YG is a mix of snoop and ti i like ho laid back yet lyrical when need be aproach very entertaining and personal. Thas word from the East. 400 salute. & Game still has the best album out Doc 2&2.5 classics. YG gon run the west one day .
Top 5 of the year.