There’s a new dynasty of artists that have emerged in the 2010’s that seem determined to carry the torch of “old school”, but various cities and artists have different interpretations about what constitutes “old school”. Mick Jenkins and Chance the Rapper have reinvented the soulful creations of Chicago, and YG fuses together a g-funk persona with modern day west-coast swagger. With YL & Roper Williams’ album friendofafriend, the same boom-bap approach that made Joey BadA$$ so popular is once again reinvented. This is not just another hip-hop album that derives its personality from New York’s history as rap’s epicenter; instead the thread of classic drum samples and RZA-styled beats has been pulled until it’s almost unrecognizable. Nocturnal and abstract, yet completely familiar, friendofafriend deals with common anxieties in a straightforward and intimate fashion. The machinations of the day-to-day are refracted through YL’s subtle wordplay that give the world of this album a personal feel. The ending “birdsfly” sounds especially poignant as uplifting choirs carry the verses with triumph. Together Roper Williams and YL have successfully carried the torch and altered east-coast tropes with a thoroughly enjoyable album. You can listen to friendofafriend in its entirety below. -Tucker Pennington
