Much to our surprise/pleasure, Youngboy NBA, ever the prolific Baton Rouge rapper, dropped a 4-song EP last night with each record featuring Kevin Gates. While not officially credited as a joint EP, it clearly is what it is, we can assume that the crediting is for behind-the-scenes label reasons.
The two growly-voiced MCs had previously teased fans about collabs on Instagram– and if you’re a fan of one, you’re likely also a fan of the other, and in that case, you, like me, could only imagine how good they would sound paired up together, given their tendencies for emotionally-charged, immediate and harrowing tales of the streets. Not to mention, their vocal similarities.
4Respect kicks off with “2 Hands” and we’re not just blindly highlighting it, it’s actually one of the best songs on the EP. The production is dark and symphonic, creating an immersive trap-orchestra experience. Kevin Gates’ voice takes the forefront of the hook while Youngboy plays the background, echoing Gates’ throaty bars.
What’s your favourite song off the EP?
Youngboy dropped one of the best albums this year (quote me/fight me) with Until Death Call My Name in April, which he followed up w a “Reloaded” version in June, and a sprinkling of lose records since then, like last week’s “Dropout.” He’s slated to perform at Lil Wayne’s festival in NOLA tomorrow.
