This is the latest studio LP & 4th overall from Athens, Georgia rapper Babystaydown. Somebody who already has his previous 16 EPs under his belt including PL Top Recruits, 1,350, Drugz Sex & Money and it’s sequel, 17, Genesis, his Cegular Records/Sony Music debut Hate da Way Um Livin, Saint, Pain Before Pleasure, Chief 13, Aimai, I.L.M.F. (I Love My Friends), ##Kool ##Kat & the Lost Files duology. His full-length debut Born Anew as well as the sophomore effort Art of War & I.B.S.D.W.M.P. (I Been Still Dealing With My Pain) have all continued to elevate him from an artistic standpoint, coming off the introspective Lil Yae & Soon to have his manager Whyceg fully produce Forever Lasting.
“You a Keeper” cloudily spends the first couple minutes explaining the reason he don’t be stuntin’ to his bitch whereas “Bankroll, Got It” instrumentally leans towards a more standard trap vibe so he can boast his wealth. “Some Typa Way” has a nocturnal atmosphere to the beat brushing off whatever detractors have to say of him just before “Shining” talks about staying down through the storm.
Meanwhile on “Come Back”, we have Babystaydown asking his lover when she’ll be returning to him over a plugg instrumental leading into “Test My Luck” spaciously responds to the claims that he’s changed when he’s still talking crazy & eager to step all over anyone who gets in his way. “Wanna Tell You” talks about his desires of not wanting to get in a fight with a woman when he lets her know the way he truly feels of her while “Lotta Things” admits he doesn’t think the safe after some of the shit he’s seen.
“My Reality” works in some gorgeous piano chords talking about him still shining even when he’s behind bars while “Dying Rich” expresses his hope of having a significant amount of money in the back by the time he’s gone. “Claim I Changed” once again looks put the rumors of him switching up to rest once & for all & after “I’ll Be Fine” assures everyone who’s been worrying for him, the outro “All for You” wraps up Forever Lasting talking about the reason he does this.
One of my favorite producers in past 2-3 years Whyceg solely handing the production of an entire project for the very 1st artist he signed to Cegular Records has been long overdue & not only would I argue Forever Lasting surpasses everything Babystaydown has done to become the greatest entry in his entry discography, but it makes me hope Ceg will do the same for Pradabagshawty or maybe even the newest addition to the label HittMan after the latter’s Cegular debut Revenge later this month & Degenerate respectively.
Score: 4.5/5
Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!
