This is the 5th studio album from Portland rapper Yeat. Coming up in 2018 off his debut EP Deep Blue $trips, he would followed up with 2 mixtapes & 3 more EPs before beginning to dominate the mainstream in 2021 whether it be him dropping a total of 4 projects (2 mixtapes, an EP & a full-length debut) or cosigns from the likes of Drake & Earl Sweatshirt. He eventually signed to Geffen Records, who backed his sophomore effort albeit major label debut 2 Alivë a little over a year ago & then a deluxe EP Gëek Pack shortly after. Coming off his 5th mixtape Lyfë couple summers ago alongside Aftërlyfe & the experimental 2093, he’s back to rep the Lyfestylë.
“Geek Timë” is this rage-inducing opener with Yeat boasting that he hits with the 10 instead of the 5 whereas “STFU” takes the Memphis route instrumentally sampling “Test My Nutz” by 2 Low Key to talk about being outside with the rag. “They Tell Më” heads back towards a hypertrap direction even though it’s one of the more repetitive moments lyrically, but then “Heard of Më” maintains a rage vibe altogether thanks to both Internet Money Records in-house producer Synthetic as well as venny talking about being geeked up like a God.
Moving on from there, “Speedball” sticks to the signature sound that many have come to know him for gettin’ this motherfuckin’ bag carryin’ a Glock by side in the process leading into “U Don’t Know” keeping the rage beats going leaving everyone who eventually tried him dead. “Orchestratë” has these prominent horn sections throughout that I found myself enjoying running it back up every weekend just before the sinister “Bë Quiet” featuring Kodak Black talks about being way too rich.
“The Costës” continues the dense, buzzing synth work with repetitive chord progressions & melodic synth leads wantin’ to know what y’all need so he can do the opposite while “Go2Work” featuring Summrs finds both SlayWorld members over a hypertrap instrumental comparing themselves to demons lurking during the evening. “Gone 4 a Min” suggests that maybe he’s bad for his own good throwing it back to Ye or the Nazi formerly known as Kanye West’s 4th album 808s & Heartbreak with the beat while the synth-driven “Forever Again” asks a dead man walking if he remembers him.
As for “On 1”, we have Yeat turning the rage back up shrugging off the lyfestylë is what others wants to be instead of them thinking they actually be living it out here while “Flytroop” maintains a hypertrap aesthetic dissing Lil88. The bassy “Eliminatë” talks about not needing a lamp or light since he already knows where the fuck he’s at while “Lying 5 Fun” flexes that he’s on a new level as further justified by 2093 & everyone else thinking he was done hooking up more synthesizers & hi-hats.
“New High” featuring Don Toliver psychedelically finds the pair dropping braggadocio while the synth-trap crossover “So What” admits to being fried. The title track featuring Lil Durk energetically sees both of them rockin’ out while “God Talkin’ Shhh” addresses everyone who thought of him as a pilgrim. “Lyfë Party” asks shawty if she’s being real on top of promising shit hasn’t changed & “Fatë” ends with him ridin’ with the windows down in this bitch.
Starting the deluxe run, “Project Lyfestylë” is this siren-heavy dedication to his Field Trip Recordings & Capitol Records imprint Lyfestyle Corporation while “For Lyfë” asks if anyone would want to do this with him for the rest of their lives. “Night Come” talks about feelin’ himself since he’s high as Hell at the moment & wanting to know why you so basic over more synths & hi-hats while the raging “5Brazy” featuring Quavo on the remix interpolates “TURNMËUP” spazzing out.
“Barbarian” futuristically dares y’all to come out & fool his squad with all them sticks they’re carrying while the blaring “Gravëyard” talks about Lyfestyle party wanting everyone to come on in & bring a friend. “Gonë” sticks to his hypertrap guns suggesting that he could be trippin’ while “Style Lyfë” showing off his flytroop status once more. The final bonus track “Back Thën” ends the deluxe complexed between not wanting to be alone & those who won’t leave him alone.
2093 marked a stylistic departure from Yeat since he took on more of a industrially experimental hip hop sound in comparison to rage & if you were disappointed in that previous LP even if I think it’s the best thing he’s ever done, you’ll probably find yourself preferring Lyfestylë. The production mainly returns to the hypertrap sound that made the Portland star a household name with additional elements of pop rap & experimental hip hop showing off a handful of new obsessions whether it be telling lies, gazing with wonderment at lights, threatening to cut people’s heads off like the Red Queen.
Score: 3.5/5
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