LA newcomer Yeat released a repackage of his new album “2 Alivë” on April 1. Is the album hot or an unnecessary add-on?
Yeat Representing For Cali
Yeat is more than just a trendy rapper; he’s amassing a movement. The 22-year-old West Coast rapper has had an exciting 2022 so far. Since 2019 he gained a cult following due to his quirky sound and addictive aura. The newbies’ second studio album, “2 Alivë,” has moved an impressive 36,000 units in its first week. This is quite the feat in a streaming era when music is sold less and less. Even in the world of fashion, he’s making waves. His signature turban is making an appearance on fans across the globe.
With the success of “2 Alivë,” it was. A no-brainer to release a repackage. So how does “2 Alivë (Geëk Pack)” measure up?
“2 Alivë” Starting On A Strong Foot
Yeat begins this repackage on a characteristically confident note. ‘Poppin’ is an upbeat album starter that immediately shows you what to expect from the rest of “2 Alivë (Geëk Pack).” The earworm Uzi-like production lends itself to Yeat’s unique flow and thoroughly sets the tone.
“We got racks out, bitch, we goin’ shoppin’ (shoppin’)
When you get like this, you rich, lil’ bitch, you poppin’
It ain’t been a day that I ain’t been high, bitch, Percs’, I pop ’em, yeah”
The first starring feature on this record is “Outside” with Young Thug. The Atlanta icon is known for lending a helping hand to newcomers, and his verse only enhances the light-hearted feeling of the song. Out of all the possible reactions to sudden fame, Yeat seems relaxed and relieved instead of overwhelmed. This blithe mood can be felt strongly in the first chunk of this album. Specifically, “Real Six” and “Luh Geek” singles.
The Star Feature
One notable music trend hasn’t been proven untrue yet: the Gunna feature is usually the standout track. Similar to “What Happened to Virgil” on Lil Durk’s “7220,” Gunna’s sleek, quiet flow elevates “Rackz Got Me” from bop to an anthem. If you’re an active TikTok user, you’ll definitely recognize this crucial part of the song.
“Percs don’t stab my back
All my slimes say slatt (say slatt)
Let’s get it, slatt, slatt, slatt, slatt, slatt (slime)”
It’s no wonder why this song has gone the most viral compared to the rest. “Rackz Got Me” has this catchy quality that can’t be described. This quality is duplicated in “On The Line,” a song that best showcases why Yeat is so popular with Gen Z. References to peak and Lil Uzi Vert. Yeat’s distinct vocal inflections and a mix of eccentric bars. It all makes for an artist the industry needs.
Underlying these braggadocios and jovial bars are beats almost reminiscent of a Nintendo 64 game. The rough “glitchy” sound makes the most significant impact in tracks like “Nvr Again” and “Double.” Yeat effortlessly floats over loud electronic sound effects that could be potentially distracting, but eventually, they only lend themselves to the aesthetic.
Keeping It Balanced
“Rollin” and “Taliban” bring back the laid-back vibes after a slightly more hard-hitting “Jus Better,” “Jump,” and “Dnt Lie.” One of the best parts of “2 Alivë (Geëk Pack)” is Yeat’s ability to switch between being somewhat goofy and serious lyrics meant to assert his dominance as a newcomer. Several instances of him doing so within the same song show, the most notable being “Kant Die.”
“I just been pullin’ up shittin’ on them all day, I stink (oh)
Yeah, I rock Chane’-ne’, Double C, wear that bitch got tint (oh)”
This mix of ditzy and bombast keeps “2 Alivë (Geëk Pack)” from being too goofy or taking itself too seriously. The entire record feels like a long party. Being in such a largely stagnant time in music, It’s refreshing to see a freshman with a clear vision and capability to carry it out.
Romantic “2 Alivë”
Of course, Yeat isn’t immune to musical tropes. “Call Me” is your typical rap love song and a nice deviation from the admittedly repetitive subject matter of the album. In addition to being about an unnamed girl, The track reveals some of Yeat’s feelings about his increasing responsibilities.
“I gotta go and hit the road, baby, ’cause this money callin’ me (callin’ me)
To be honest, I don’t really wanna do it, but these agents callin’ me”
“Geek High,” “Narcoticz,” and “Luh m” featuring Yung Kayo, Ken Car$on, and Septembersrich, respectively, are all excellent party songs. Even if you’re just listening with an old pair of AirPods (like me), many of Yeat’s songs still feel like you’ve been dropped into a big concert. This quality seems to shine the most on the tracks with features. While Yeat is definitely strong on his own, he shows out even more distinctly when there’s another artist to the play-off. It’s almost like the listener can feel the two rappers hyping each other up.
“Smooktober” and “Still Countin” are the final two tracks of the original version of “2 Alivë.” It’s obvious why these two were chosen as the album closers. They both exemplify Yeat’s best qualities and utilize some of the best productions on the album. The final 10 songs are bonus tracks, but one could still take the original cut and find it satisfactory.
The New Songs On The Block
Of course, the most anticipated songs in this repackage were the two featuring Lil Uzi Vert: “Big Tonka” and “3G.” To say that Uzi delivers is an understatement. The Philly icon comes in full swing with the same confidence we saw on the “Eternal Atake” album in 2020. His signature fast flow compliments Yeat perfectly. Notably, “Big Tonka” flaunts the crazy chemistry between the two.
One concern going into any repackage album is the obvious question of necessity. The repackage trend started with “Eternal Atake,” which hasn’t always worked in the artists’ favor. It ended up sounding unexpected yet interesting with Uzi, but sometimes the repackages can be redundant and unneeded. So where does “2 Alivë (Geëk Pack)” land?
“Kant Relax,” “No Comment,” “New Turban,” “Hater,” “Way Back,” “Luv Money,” and “Dub” aren’t very different from the rest of the album. Still, they’re fulfilling additions. Namely, “Hater” and “Dub” sound like they could fit right in with the main songs. “Dub” is yet another smash TikTok hit for Yeat, with thousands of users using the stellar hook for a dance or joke. Whether you like him or not, it’s simply undeniable that Yeat is connecting with the youth in a clear-cut way.
The Conclusion
Overall, “2 Alivë (Geëk Pack)” is an excellent showing from Yeat. The album effectively displays why we should be giving this underground rapper the flowers he deserves. There are plenty of rappers born from TikTok, many not sticking around for long. Aside from his exceptionally dedicated fanbase, Yeat stands out in his ability to stand out in an ocean of hopefuls. There are some minor faults in the record, though. Mainly its daunting length. With 30 tracks in total and a 90-minute runtime, it’s a heavy listen. To be fair, this is a typical problem with most repackage albums. But still, you’ll most likely wanna take a break around track 15. Another relatively minor tick is the same subject matter and sound of the album. “2 Alivë (Geëk Pack)” certainly has its standout moments. Still, it can blend together just a tad in the middle.
Despite this, “2 Alivë (Geëk Pack)” is an exciting taste of Yeat’s offering. With an official cosign from Uzi, he can only go up from here.
“2 Alivë (Geëk Pack)” is available on Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, and Youtube.
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Dreema Carrington|IG @dr3amgirl79|Twitter @notdreema
