Ty Dolla $ign's latest release, Free TC, is all over the place. At 72 minutes, the album spans from orchestral R&B to gangster rap, making it all sound like its part of the same gangster symphony. Along with its variation of sounds, there's a wide variety of features.
With twenty-two special guests featured in total, Ty Dolla $ign received a lot of assistance with this LP. From the west coast G-funk reviver YG, to the established R&B crooner R. Kelly, there are a bunch of big names that contributed to the project. Kanye West, Wiz Khalifa, Future, and Kendrick Lamar capture three of the biggest personalities in the game right now.
There's also some relatively unknown artists that made the cut too, proving that Ty didn't just employ the biggest names in the business to help boost record sales. We did our best to look at each feature objectively, and ranked them accordingly.
If you missed it, peep our new digital cover story with Ty Dolla $ign here.
PJ on "Finale"
Accompanying Ty with the multi-layered "Finale," PJ's contribution to the record isn't earth-shattering, but it adds to the lush feel. She and Ty duet on the outro, which is a perfectly pleasant track, but not an extraordinarily memorable portion of Free TC.
Diddy on "Guard Down"
Diddy's 'features' are almost completely novelty at this point. As he did on The Game's new album, Diddy talks a little bit at the end of the track he's featured on. Along with Kanye West, Diddy was seemingly thrown on "Guard Down" just to make the tracklist look that much more appealing. However, even if he weren't on it, it would likely impact in the exact same manner.
Kanye West on "Guard Down"
Onto the next "Guard Down" feature. Kanye singing on "Guard Down" was nice, but let's be honest: it's not what any of us wanted. While we waited for the most interesting man in the game to spit some bars, we vaguely hear the difference between Ty, and Ye doing a Ty impression. It's negligible and instantly forgettable. Similar to Diddy's appearance on "Guard Down," the song would have existed in a similar space without Kanye's feature.
Jagged Edge on "Straight Up"
Jagged Edge on "Straight Up"
Ty Dolla $ign was probably a huge Jagged Edge fan, prompting their place on "Straight Up." Ty prefaces their four bars with, "You can't blame me, we had that Jagged Edge plan," making them props in the song itself. Not an essential feature from the album, however.
Brandy on "LA"
Along for the pop appeal, Brandy adds a pleasant voice to the hit "LA." It could have been anyone, however, because her over-produced vocals don't exactly have much of a personality of their own.
Sa-Ra on "Finale"
As an alternative hip hop group based in Los Angeles, Sa-Ra is another left field choice from Ty. The group assisted in the songwriting of "Finale," likely helping to create the complex soundscape that finishes the album.
R. Kelly on "Actress"
Ty Dolla $ign probably wouldn't exist if it wasn't for R. Kelly. The X-rated R&B superstar paved the way for artists like Ty, and it's pretty awesome to see them tackling a song together. "Yeah she's a star out this flick / Give her five stars in this bitch," these are the kinds of lines Kelly pioneered years ago, and he's still at it in 2015.
Babyface on "Solid"
When was the last time an acoustic track bumped this hard in the world of hip hop or R&B? It's been a while since "Thugz Mansion," and I'm not sure something of this caliber has been done in a decade. Shout outs to Babyface for bringing this side of Ty out.
E-40 on "Saved"
If you're trying to make a West Coast classic, you have to employ some West Coast legends. While Snoop and Dre may not be anywhere on Free TC, E-40 blesses a DJ Mustard with a hyphy verse that only he could pull off.
"I told her that I'm broke, can't throw her half of my guap
Bitch I ain't Rescue Ronnie, I ain't captain save a thot
Bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch
Make me rich, follow my commands and I'll grant you a wish
I'm just a real one from the gravel, from the soil, the mud
And some of my thugs ain't never been to a club"
James Fauntleroy on "LA"
James Fauntleroy's contribution to "LA" sits somewhere in the middle. Maybe because the record is already so intense on the instrumental side, he gets a bit lost in the shuffle. It's possible you won't even remember that Fauntleroy closes out the record, with your focus remaining on that Kendrick feature and the dueted hook.
Joe Moses on "Only Right"
Free TC is more of an R&B album than a rap album - no question. But Ty's ability to conjure up a gangster funk record like "Only Right" is a testament to his versatility. Joe Moses, YG, and TeeCee4800 all do their thing with short and potent verses. First up on the list (second on the track), Joe Moses...
"Yeah, it's only right where my flag be
All fuckin' red, bitch, I get it from my daddy
It's only right I'm a whoop
It's only fuckin' right if I fuck, you was cute
Niggas only right if the money be long
And it don't feel right if the condom was on
But it's only right, I got one night
I give her 'Murder Was the Case' like Suge Knight"
Rae Sremmurd on "Blasé"
Both Rae Sremmurd cats bring a big dose of energy and youthful appeal to "Blasé." The Future chorus probably would have made it a smash single anyways, but the Mississippi duo round it out. Still, it's the hook that leaves a more permanent mark.
Wiz Khalifa on "Sitting Pretty"
You don't release a full-length on Taylor Gang without letting bossman Wiz nestle in on a track. He's been riding with that smooth trap style as of late, and does the same on "Sitting Pretty." The two have collaborated a bunch in the past, including a full EP of material earlier this year. Here they're at it again, and Wiz comes correct with his verse, proving why Free TC is released on his label.
D-Loc on "Miracle/Whenever"
D-Loc, along with Ty Dolla $ign and his brother Big TC, are close. Having linked up before, the trio are at it again on "Miracle/Whenever," a powerful eight-minute track that almost acts as the focus of the entire album, which is why it ranks so high here.
Fetty Wap on "When I See Ya"
In terms of R&B-pop crossover, no one has it locked like Fetty Wap, so it seems appropriate the two link up on Free TC. Over a bass-heavy, futuristic R&B beat courtesy of Cardo, Fetty shines with Ty on "When I See Ya"-- it's nothing out of the norm for Fetty, but exactly what's needed.
Trey Songz on "Know Ya"
Songz, years ago, was sort of in the position Ty Dolla $ign is in now. An R&B crooner with a little bit of an edge, Trey Songz brings the already-impressive "Know Ya" up a notch, with Metro Boomin's production upping the replay value even further.
Sevyn Streeter on "Credit"
Sevyn Streeter stands as one of the more unique singing voices on the album. Trey Songz, Jagged Edge, even Kanye almost blend in with Ty's vocals, but when this 29-year-old Florida songstress hits her lines, it's something special. As it gives way into some jazzy saxophone/piano dueting, the end of "Credit" serves as one of the most beautiful parts of the entire album.
YG on "Only Right"
YG on "Only Right"
As one of gangster rap's most exciting new faces, YG's verse on "Only Right" was highly anticipated and certainly on par. It's short-lived, but strong, when he steps to the mic for his Free TC spotlight.
"See, me, see, me, I act a fool in that pussy
Virgin bitches run, so I'm bool in that puss
That new Ghost 'bout three hun'ed
Nine hun'ed cash and it feel like I ain't spend nothin'
It was only right they gave me half a mil
That was only one deal, that shit got me the chills, nigga
No drive-throughs to buy foods, no dinner tables
But me Ty, Mustard all got mils, nigga"
TeeCee4800 on "Only Right"
"Only Right" may have featured YG and Joe Moses, but TeeCee4800 shined the brightest. Over the mid-tempo fire that DJ Mustard provided, TeeCee makes his name known with eight of the illest bars on the whole album. If you like this, be sure to check out Realness Over Millions, which has a bunch of that bouncy West Coast gangster vibe present on the project.
"It's only right she fuck with a nigga like me
It's only right I fucked a bitch in my Nikes
It's only right that I fuck her all night, give her pipe
Have her fucked up saying, 'Alright'
Ay, it's TeeCee the loc
She say my dick big, but she still will not choke
I hit that, get ghost, run around in that Ghost
Run a red light, so close
And I might throw couple dollars if I see her working that pole"
Kendrick Lamar on "LA"
On the song "LA," which opens up the album, Kendrick Lamar doesn't just showcase why he's one of the best features; he also displays why he's at the top of the game. Spitting one of the few lengthy rap verses on the album, Kendrick provides a look into the lower-class Los Angeles life that he elaborated more on To Pimp A Butterfly.
Haters may think Kendrick was too obvious of a pick to settle within the top three, but we gotta give credit where it's due.
Future on "Blasé"
Yet another fire hook from the hook MVP, Future. Future not only created one of the catchiest hooks within Free TC, he brought the word "blasé" back (had it ever left? Or was it ever there to begin with?). Future's auto-tuned hook and adlibs match perfectly with DJ Spinz's trap-inspired production, and play off Ty's own, creating a juxtaposition that's way more interesting than Rae Sremmurd's features.
Big TC on "Miracle/Whenever"
As the brother of Ty and the namesake of the album, Big TC's verse is a very important part of Free TC, and while that's quite a bit of pressure in and of itself, TC comes through. Despite recording the verse in prison, his vocals are beautiful yet raw, proving he's got just as much talent, if not more than, his brother. No auto-tune needed. As a centerpiece of the album, Big TC comes out as one of the most memorable features-- not only because of that low audio quality but because of the quality he achieves in such circumstances.