Logic returns to his Sinatra roots on ‘YSIV’
The 1–800 rapper takes it back (way back) to the first Sinatra mixtape on new album.
Logic returns to his Young Sinatra sound on YSIV (Young Sinatra 4), but the question is… do we have mixtape Logic? Or album Logic? After blowing up from his suicide awareness single, 1–800, and the following negative reception to his last studio album Everybody, Logic seems to have been struggling to hold his place near the top of the mainstream hip-hop scene. On this project he says fuck all that and delivers a love-letter to the fans who have been with him since day one. Logic reminds us why we fell in love with his music in the first place, returning to the classic Young Sinatra sound which worked for him so well in his mixtape days.
To be honest, this might be his best work yet. Not only is Logic back on the boom-bap beats produced by 6ix, but YSIV is full of references to his older work including a sample of the original hook and beat from the first 3 Young Sinatra tracks. The album starts off with a thank you to the fans in which he plays voicemails that fans have sent him, paying homage to the track Worldwide from his 2012 mixtape Undeniable. Flipping the script on the previous instalments in the Young Sinatra series where Logic would rap about being on the come-up, on YSIV he raps about the come up from the perspective of someone who has already made it.
Highlights on this album include Wu Tang Forever which features a verse from the entire Wu-Tang Clan and the track 100 Miles and Running where Logic really flexes how talented a technical rapper he really is. However it’s not all about the hard grinding ‘glory days’; the Maryland rapper recognises his success by sampling beats like Jaden Smith’s ICON and flexes on everyone in a similar way to his Bobby Tarantino mixtapes — with the classic rap bitches, money, houses bars. He also adds to the canon of his last 3 studio albums by immediately retconning the statement on Everybody that stated his next album (being YSIV) would be his last.
As someone who has followed Logic for almost his entire career, there weren’t many disappointments on this album. YSIV was the perfect blend of nostalgia and new content. One of the only drawbacks I have is the transitioning between tracks. The album doesn’t transition seamlessly like his previous work has, however this a very minor negative.
Even though Logic takes much inspiration from his previous mixtapes he maintains the “album Logic” message and preaches about following your dreams. All up I think that YSIV is the best project Logic has made. It feels like he stands somewhere in between “mixtape Logic” and “album Logic” and will ultimately appeal to the biggest audience. YSIV is a true sequel to the old Young Sinatra mixtapes and it will be a rewarding listen for older fans. It’s a satisfying conclusion to the story of Logic’s come-up painted throughout the Young Sinatra series.
Fav Tracks: The Return, 100 Miles and Running, YSIV and ICONIC
