Summer Songs 2 Embodies All the Fun You Wish You Could Have
Let’s get one thing straight: it’s time for all you old hip-hop heads to stop hating and appreciate the creativity that is Lil Yachty’s music.
After dropping his nautical mixtape, Lil Boat, earlier this year, it quickly made the rounds—becoming one of the silliest mixes to make its way onto the web. Quirky samples, barbaric lyrics, and a generally positive attitude caked the entire project from front to back.
Striking while the iron’s hot, Lil Yachty has released another nonsensical but equally enticing mixtape appropriately named Summer Songs 2. The production is more refined this time around, all features being kept close to home while members of Lil Yachty’s Sailing Team making their debut appearance as a collective on the project.
The song “Intro (First Day of Summer)” starts off the tape with Lil Yachty’s unique tone of voice layered on top of a silly production styling. It’s instantly recognizable that Summer Songs 2 is in the same vein as Lil Boat, but with a clearer emphasis that the MC isn’t a one trick pony. Rather, he is here for the long haul.
The following track, “For Hot 97” pokes fun at the older demographic of rap fanatics by targeting one of the most popular hip-hop radio stations, Hot 97. A host of the radio show Ebro Darden—who is not a fan of Lil Yachty’s quirky style—put the young Atlanta rapper on blast during one of their interviews because Lil Yachty wasn’t down with freestyling seriously.
“So people who love bars are so about hip-hop, and the reason they’re so mad is because they think the young kids don’t take hip-hop seriously”
Lil Yachty quickly responded with an honest and blunt answer. “I honestly don’t,” he said.
“For Hot 97” is one of the most aggressive tracks on the tape, featuring verses from fellow Sailing Team members Jban$, BIGBRUTHACHUBBA and Byou, who all sound just as unique as the captain of the team himself. However, the most hostile verses to make their way onto the tape appears on the track “Up Next 3”, delivered by Lil Herb.While the track feels grimy and relentlessly in your face, Lil Yachty and Lil Herb spare no time spitting their most vigorous lyrics, leaving little room to breathe. It’s undebatable that “Up Next 3” is the most polarizing track to appear on Summer Songs 2 as both the young MCs go off, leaving the listener totally hyped.
The next track, “Dipset” takes advantage of the animated television show Cowboy Bebop, blending samples from the series into the song. A heavy booming bass leads the track from start to finish and features a guest verse from rapper Offset, of the Atlanta rap trio, Migos. The female vocals that harmonize in the background wonderfully reflect the carefree, light-hearted style that Lil Yachty aims to achieve.
The posse cut “All In” features the entire Sailing Team and introduces us many up and coming rappers—that we can hopefully expect to hear more from in the coming years.
It’s evident that the whole squad is having fun and isn’t taking themselves too seriously, rather enjoying their moment in the limelight. It’ll be interesting to watch the direction that each member takes as they continue forth beyond the mixtape.
Lil Yachty isn’t here try to impress anyone, let alone shape the next pivotal rap album. He’s not about that—he’s enjoying himself in the moment and has clear intentions to keep it that way.
