The Student News Site of North Carolina A&T State University

The A&T Register

The Student News Site of North Carolina A&T State University

The A&T Register

The Student News Site of North Carolina A&T State University

The A&T Register

    West Coast Rappers’ ‘Krazy Life’

    When you hear, “It’s YG 400,” yelled on a track before a verse is about to be delivered, just knows it is one of the few young artist that has helped revitalize the west coast.

    In doing so, Mr. YG 400 has given the Hip Hop community “My Krazy Life” which has landed at number one on the charts. If you love vintage west coast rap, then this project is the perfect album fot you. The buzz before the album was huge, but most would agree that the hype was well worth it. “My Krazy Life” is a seventeen song, west coast masterpiece that makes listeners want to put some gold Daytons on their dad’s old Cadillac and throw up Westside.

    “I just wanna party, I don’t wanna hurt nobody, just wanna party” and that is exactly what this record is entitled “I just wanna party” displays as YG kills the track. First, he lets the world know that he is on his way to the top stating, “I ain’t rich, but I’m finna be.” There is no doubting that because if you didn’t know his name, YG, before now it is a given that he will become a household name. Though YG went in on his verse on “I just wanna party” I do not think listeners were ready for schoolboy Q to put the track in a body bag. Schoolboy Q uses his usual lyrical yet gangster raps followed by one of the young OGs of the west coast, Jay Rock, who puts the proverbial nail in the coffin.

    One very important factor of any album of any genre is transition and “My Krazy Life” transitions from track to track almost perfectly. Whether it is the skits that reflect the crimes of YG’s past, or ones that reflect past relationship experiences, it somehow is right on topic with the next track. For example, the ending of “Bicken Back being bool” where there is a vivid skit of YG and some of his homies performing a home invasion. The next track is “Meet the flockers” where YG details the tactics to a home robbery in which he simply tells stories of his past while growing up in Compton, CA. Then of course, there is one of the biggest records of the past year, “My Hitta,” which he teams up with the boss of CTE world, Young Jezzy and another young artist, Rich Homie Quan. “My hitta” has sat on the top of the charts for numerous weeks, and radio stations around the country simply cannot get enough.

    When it comes to the production of this album, DJ Mustard definitely blessed his long time friend YG. Various Hip-Hop analysts have even compared the duo to that of the legendary combo of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Though these two have a long way to go before they can even be mentioned in the same sentence as those two, they have captured the nation’s attention. So just know when you hear “Mustard on the beat” it is about to be a west coast based instrumental, but it could be an artist from anywhere spitting over it.

    While riding to “My Krazy Life” one might notice that YG maintains a sense of onomatopoeia throughout his verses as he brings imagery to his records. “Click clack pow” and “pop pop, that’s 2 shots” are just a part of YG’s vintage west coast delivery similar to that of E-40 or Too short.

    The variety of tracks that this album presents could have a fan in disarray while choosing their favorite song. It is track list full of bangers. Whether it’s “Who do you love” featuring Drake or “Really be” featuring fellow west coast standout, Kendrick Lamar, you really cannot wrong.

    With that being said, if there was a favorite track on this album, it probably would be “Me and my B.” “Me and my B” details one of YG’s past relationships where he was cheated on with the hook singing “just looking for a down girl,” delivered by recording artist Tory Lanez.

    No matter what coast you represent, nor what region of hip-hop you roll with, if you respect that old west coast tone you will love “My Krazy Life.” There is something to be said for a younger artist who comprehends the importance of placing imagery within his or her records. A younger artist who pays homage to the artists who paved the way for his or her craft must be accounted for. Whether “Sorry Momma” is today’s version of “Dear Mama,” or whether some of the music is N.W.A. influenced, it is clear what west coast was built upon.

    Artists like YG, Kendrick Lamar, Dom Kennedy and Nippsy Hussle are doing their job to revitalize the coast. “My Krazy life” falls in line with the many projects that are yet to come from the west coast. Until then, throw your Ws up, and enjoy the ride.

    • Justin Carrigan, Contributor