tana – “Friends Forever” review

Here we have the surprise 9th EP from Atlanta, Georgia up-&-comer tana. Beginning in 2018 as a member of the plu2o9 collective under the original moniker BabySantana, he would go on to drop his first 2 EPs Recreation! & Planet Sosa alongside his debut mixtape Quan before signining to Lil Tecca’s very own Republic Records imprint Galactic Records the next fall. tana then preluded his full-length debut album bana by putting out Gaultier as well as London & Dale. Only a month following the main course, Santanaromani has decided to upload Friends Forever on SoundCloud only 24 hours after producing the standout track “Chauncey” off the new Ian EP Valedictorian.

In a surprising turn of events, “Les Fleurs de Belle” kicks off the EP by taking a complete 180° stylistically departing from the trap/pop rap/rage/pluggnb sounds that he became known for in favor of psychedelic rock production from n9ck & robotically sung vocals. Yes, you heard me correctly. “Meisje” continues to delver further down the psych rock rabbit hole to sing about heartbreak while “Charlie” comes through with my favorite vocal performances on the entire EP letting Charlie know what he’s caused continuing the mid-60s style of rock emulating or enhancing the effects of psychedelic drugs. “Let’s Run Far Away” concludes Friends Forever by rejectingly singing about escapism over solemn guitars passages.

Friends Forever isn’t really any different from the new Ouija Macc tape Corruptus or Lil Yachty’s last album Let’s Start Here., of course IGOR and 808s & Heartbreak too. The latter of which he definitely pulls influence from with the amount of heavy auto-tune on his voice during a few points on the EP. But my point is: What you’re gonna get on here is something COMPLETELY & ENTIRELY different from anything that he’s put out previously. When an artist goes into a completely different direction like this, it could go like Rebirth & Supermarket or like those other projects I mentioned. And Friends Forever‘s rock sound makes tana the most versatile signing on Galactic much like maintaining Destroy Lonely happening to be the most versatile signing on Opium.

Score: 4/5

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tana – “bana” review

Atlanta, Georgia up-&-comer tana coming off a string of EPs by releasing his full-length debut studio album. Starting in 2018 as a member of the plu2o9 collective under the original moniker BabySantana, he would go on to drop his first 2 EPs Recreation! & Planet Sosa alongside his debut mixtape Quan before signining to Lil Tecca’s very own Republic Records imprint Galactic Records the next fall. tana then preluded bana by putting out Gaultier as well as London & Dale. Nearly 6 months after the latter, we’re finally being treated to the main course.

“Decatur” produced by Zaytoven has to be my favorite opening track to a tana project yet jumping over a rich trap instrumental talking about his current mentality paying tribute to the titular city in Georgia whereas “Never Sober” takes the atmospheric route thanks to Rio Leyva working in some hi-hats as well boasting that his clients are always under the influence. “Because of Me” is this piano/trap hybrid asserting his position over those who turned his back on him after teaching them everything they know leading into the pluggnb infused “Cut Ties” telling his old hoes he ain’t interested in them no more.

Meanwhile on “Helluva Night”, we have BabySantana luxuriously describing an eventful evening that he’s had just before the club banger “couple$$$” that Internet Money Records in-house producer Synthetic laced talks about the high status he’s reached as result of his position as an artist. “stfu” breaks down life on the road & being too busy to have conversations with others unless it’s about money accompanied by a harp & hi-hats, but then the heavenly “Designer Thangs” begins the 2nd half of the album by talking about tana’s commitment to his craft.

“Slide” makes it clear to his current romantic interest that he’s in her city for the night on top of a spacious backdrop & rattling hi-hats while “Jesus Piece” is this synth-trap fusion looking back on the early stages of his career since he was introduced to the industry at a young age. “YSL” playfully talks about having her leave in new Saint Laurent while “VTMNTS” mixes a guitar & hi-hats talking about the Swiss luxury fashion house. “Feng Shui” clouding prays for better days & “wake up” ends Santanaromani’s first LP by psychedelically hoping she’s still there when he gets up.

Of all 4 projects we’ve gotten from tana in the last year & a half ever since he signed to a major label, bana stands out differently than Gaultier or even London & Dale did. Not only is he continually progressing artistically here but this time, we get what could possibly be his most cohesive body of work thus far. It’s more well-produced refining his signature pop rap/trap/pluggnb stylings & as far as the subject matter goes, you get a clearer look at who tana is personally.

Score: 4/5

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tana – “Dale” review

Atlanta, Georgia up-&-comer tana continuing to prelude his full-length debut LP putting out his 3rd EP of the year & his 8th EP overall. Starting in 2018 as a member of the plu2o9 collective under the original moniker BabySantana, he would go on to drop his first 2 EPs Recreation! & Planet Sosa alongside his debut mixtape Quan before signining to Lil Tecca’s very own Republic Records imprint Galactic Records the next fall. But coming off his next 3 EPs n(n) as well as Santana & it’s sequel, tana rang in 2023 by making an impressive major label debut off his last EP Gaultier. But coming off London earlier this fall, tana is continuing to build up towards his first LP with Dale.

“Hi-Roller Foreigner” is a bass-heavy pop rap/trap opener asking if you wanna party with them & that he’s off the Molly whereas “5OUTH5IDE” talks about a bitch that’s so bad, that he might just lay her down over a cloudy trap beat. The song “Bet” works in a spacious backdrop & hi-hats from BryceUnknwn & Rafmade so he can flex that he’s touchin’ the motherfuckin’ stars leading into “Don’t Sweat It (No Pressure)” telling this chick not to let shit get to her head keeping the trillwave production in tact. “Models” wraps everything up by detailing his affluent lifestyle & observing how the music industry underestimates him over an ethereal n9ck beat.

tana’s been having a Hell of a year quickly establishing himself as Galactic’s best signing to date on Gaultier & with London being well received only a couple months back, I really didn’t expect anything less. Lo & behold: He went 3/3 for this year. Production wise, it’s rooted in his cloudy pop rap/trap sound & there’s a lot of passion in tana’s delivery throughout this one that should be noted.

Score: 3.5/5

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tana – “London” review

This is the 7th EP from Atlanta, Georgia up-&-comer tana. Coming up in 2018 as a member of the plu2o9 collective under the original moniker BabySantana, he would go on to drop his first 2 EPs Recreation! & Planet Sosa alongside his debut mixtape Quan a couple years later & eventually signed to Lil Tecca’s very own Republic Records imprint Galactic Records the next fall. But coming off his last 3 EPs n(n) as well as Santana & it’s sequel, tana’s rang in 2023 by making an impressive major label debut off his last EP Gaultier at the beginning of the year. So considering that, I went into London to hear where he’d take it from there ahead of a self-titled body of work next month.

Things start off with a cloudy 2 & a half intro talking about being unable to prioritize a bitch over a bag despite wanting her badly whereas “nan” takes it a step further by detailing having to cut off his last girl because she was fucking with his head backed by a booming trap instrumental. “bool” talks about running the bucks up accompanied by a spacious beat with some 808s, but then “up” shoots for a glitchier trap approach sonically admitting he fucked up but he knows how to fix it.

“kould tell” psychedelically points out that the one he’s seeing now has clearly never been with a rockstar before leading into the trillwave-infused “cheque” encouraging shawty to rock with him even though he doesn’t play guitar. “rn (right now)” makes it clear that he don’t pop out when it’s bright out over a pluggnb instrumental that is until “ainmean.” strips the drums completely telling her that he didn’t mean to hurt her feelings. “pop it.” wraps up London by blending synths & hi-hats telling his lover that he’ll buy anything in the stores for her.

Gaultier quickly became the best EP in his discography once the year started & London is already right behind it on top of raising my expectations for self-titled next month. The production’s on par with tana’s major label debut continuing to expand on his pluggnb, cloudy pop rap sound & he’s continuing to deliver some of his strongest performances.

Score: 3.5/5

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tana – “Gaultier” review

This is the 6th EP from Atlanta, Georgia up-&-comer tana. Coming up in 2018 as a member of the plu2o9 collective under the original moniker BabySantana, he would go on to drop his first 2 EPs Recreation! & Planet Sosa alongside his debut mixtape Quan a couple years later & eventually signed to Lil Tecca’s very own Republic Records imprint Galactic Records the next fall. But coming off his last 3 EPs n(n) as well as Santana & it’s sequel, tana’s ringing in 2023 by making Gaultier his official major label debut.

“y” is a cloudy trap opener to the EP with tana the type of woman to drive you crazy yet the one you’d want to settle down & have kids with whereas “archive” continues to take a more atmospheric route courtesy of Internet Money Records founder Taz Taylor talking about wanting to touch the stars. “saving me” samples “Clairvoyant” by MISOGI confessing that he can’t be saved whatsoever, but then “hell nah” gives me a more psychedelic feel talking about hanging with shooters & telling/showing you how he feels.

Moving on from there with “hell yeah”, we have tana boasting his wealth & being prideful of the position that he’s in currently on top of a pluggy trap instrumental leading into “fear no man” talking about being afraid of anyone or anything over some hi-hats & synthesizers provided by Nosaint & Zodiac from Vanguard Music Group. “gon be ok” keeps things in cloud rap territory promising that everything will work itself out in the end just before the piano-laced “swaggin’ like this”with Lancey Foux finds the 2 showing y’all how they swag out.

The song “as i walk thru the path” speaks on getting faded in light of haters over a peppy trap beat while the penultimate track “hills @ night” has a more wavier groove to it from the synths to the lyrics about wanting to call this baddie his. “hope you feel the same” however is an acoustic-heavy closer to the EP touching on being unable to numb the pain & being stuck in his ways. I also don’t mind the interpolation of “changes” by the late XXXTENTACION at the back-end of the verse either.

Of the 3 protégés that Lil Tecca has taken under his wing & signed to Galactic/Republic so far, I respectfully think tana is the most promising of the bunch & Gaultier further cements that in my personal opinion. From the improved production choices to the passionate performances & catchy songwriting, this is a solid major label debut that demonstrates how much he’s grown as an artist within the last 5 years & gives me the feeling that it’s only the beginning.

Score: 3.5/5

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