YG serves a hearty helping of hard-nosed, West Coast and trap-infused bangers on his third studio album, Stay Dangerous.  Wheel not reinvented, but worthwhile.

Compton rapper YG returns with his third studio album, Stay Dangerous. Stay Dangerous follows up his excellent, somewhat underrated sophomore LP, Still Brazy, released in 2016.  The promo campaign for Stay Dangerous has been relatively quiet, with the buzz surrounding the project feeling a bit lukewarm.  Nonetheless, Stay Dangerous has its fair share of memorable moments, even if the rapper opts for shallower, less meaningful ideas at times.

“10 Times”

Something that’s consistent throughout Stay Dangerous is the tough, hard-nosed persona. This is apparent from the jump with “10 Times,” where YG asserts, “It’s ten times harder for a real n*gga.” Throughout his rhymes, against a minimalist, minor-key backdrop, he effectively depicts his struggles, and the struggles of like-minded, ‘real ones.’  He ‘stays dangerous’ on “Bulletproof” featuring Jay 305, which keeps the trap lit to say the least.  While the bars aren’t groundbreaking – sex, crimes, money, status – YG remains confident.  Furthermore, Jay 305 is a great partner-in-crime, adding even more Cali flare.

“Handgun”

“Handgun” commences with sketchy, seedy-sounding, mysterious synths at the onset. YG drops a loosely, pop-rapped hook on this rhythmic joint, which grows catchier with successive listens.  On the verses, his rhymes are repetitive at times, yet still ‘amped-up’ as he raps about sex and shooting…. A$AP Rocky takes the second verse, exhibiting gimmicky as well, while adding a couple more topics to his ‘arsenal’ – shooting, lux, money, sex. Still, he doesn’t serve up a surprise rap lyric gourmet… Ultimately, “Handgun” is respectable, if a bit underwhelming.

Keeping the bangers coming, “Suu Whoop” is backed up by strong production work, courtesy of J Holt and DJ Mustard.  The production features a hard beat that anchors things down, as well as dark, yet surprisingly poised synths.  YG showcases an electrifying flow overall. Simply put, he’s turned up, and chocked-full of swagger.  Among his best moments is the pre-hook, featuring the bloods gang call (“Suu whoop, my b*tch, put red on her shows”), following up with an equally alluring hook. On the verses, he continues to pledge his allegiance to the Bloods –“The Crips know I’m with this Blood shit.” Following each verse and preceding the pre-hook, there’s a ‘refrain.’  Not only is he ‘brazy,’ but he also idolizes rapper B Brazy.

“Big Bank” 

Following the high-flying “Suu Whoop,” “Can’t Get in Kanada” suffers from being utterly indistinct.  No, there’s nothing on Stay Dangerous that sounds like this specific record up until this point, but it’s pretty basic, filled with repetition and yielding anything beyond the superficial.  This a flex track and nothing more. “Too Cocky” definitely doesn’t increase the depth, but the West Coast, banging trap production by DJ Mustard gives it a lift over “Kanada.” Overall, even if it’s a bit corny channeling Right Said Fred, it works.

2 Chainz, Big Sean, Nicki Minaj and DJ Mustard all on one track? Yup, “Big Bank” totally has some star power going on.  YG kicks the skeletal flex-fest off assertively, bragging about money and material things. He follows up with an utterly simple hook: “Big bank take lil’ bank, bank… /Type of money you gon’ need a safe / Type of money you gon’ need a bank.” Yeah, it’s ‘basic,’ but at least it’s basic with a hell of a lot of swagger. 2 Chainz (second verse) asserts, “And you know Tity [Boi] shinin’ like acrylic.” “First generation millionaire” Big Sean is proud of the fact that he “broke the curse in my family not having shit.” Nicki Minaj steals the show, confidently spitting, “Yep, the queen’s back, what’s happenin’? / Rerun, ‘bout to make these b*tches rap again.”  Nothing brand new, but still a #BANGER.

“Power”

There continues to be a lack of transcendence on Stay Dangerous.  While ‘power’ itself can be ‘dangerous’ (“no one man should have all that power”) “Power,” is all about sex.  There’s nothing making the rap game or the world a better place when Ty Dolla $ign delivers a line such as “Oh, yeah, that pussy got power / Yeah, but my dick like a tower.” #Next.  “Slay” isn’t quite as sexually-charged as “Power,” but don’t get it twisted. YG and Quavo keep things one dimensional – “One time if you a bad b*tch / Two times just for the savage / All you wanna do is slay.”

“666” ends up being a great change of pace.  While Ty Dolla $ign and Quavo offer ‘the expected’ on their guest features, YoungBoy Never Broke Again is the best of the three on “666.” Alongside YG, he brings some bite and aggressive and assertive rhymes to the table.  Adding to the electric nature of this devilish track is an outro performed by Albert “Alchemist” Thompson that encompasses ‘staying dangerous.’  There a little ‘too/two’ much happening on the energetic “Too Brazy,” featuring Mozzy. On the hook, he spits: “Two young n*ggas going too brazy / Two bad b*tches, I be double datin’ / Two mad n*ggas sayin’, ‘f*ck you, pay me’ / Two houses, I be going too brazy.” Self-explanatory, enjoyable enough, nothing game changing.

“Deeper Than Rap”

Lil Rich offers terrific production work that embodies the West Coast aesthetic on “Pussy Money Fame.” YG doesn’t switch up his style or subject matter here, but like the majority of Stay Dangerous, he’s r-e-s-p-e-c-t-a-b-l-e.  One might expect “Deeper Than Rap” to be as shallow as some of its counterparts.  Wrong.  He actually digs deeper, not only rapping about street life, but also his daughter on the third verse.  “I got a daughter now / I’m barely around… / Put her in a good school, make sure she in honor roll… / bring her to the safest shows.”

Keeping it Cali, Big TC, incarcerated brother of Ty Dolla $ign, appears on “Free the Homies Interlude,” praising YG.  It’s a fitting prelude to the lengthy, but well-rounded closing number, “Bomptown Finest.”  “Bomptown Finest” is arguably one of Stay Dangerous’ finest songs because the rapper is spitting deeper, more reflective bars.

Final Thoughts 

So, how does Stay Dangerous stack up? Overall, the album has plenty of great moments, including some bangers and a couple deeper numbers.  Too often, YG is too basic and simplistic, which makes his previous album, Still Brazy, a better-rounded album.  Nonetheless, Stay Dangerous is no slouch and worthy of spins. Wheel not reinvented, but worthwhile.

Gems: “10 Times,” “Handgun,” “Suu Whoop,” “Big Bank,” “666,” “Deeper Than Rap” & “Bomptown Finest”

YG • Stay Dangerous • Def Jam • Release: 8.3.18

Photo Credit: Def Jam