The year's gotten off to a quick start, with long-awaited new music from Kanye West and Meek Mill, and another predictably site-crashing mixtape from Future. With all of that, and seeing that a new Migos mixtape isn't a rare occurrence these days, you might've glossed over Migos' YRN 2. If that's the case, though, you're missing out on a fantastic offering from the newly reunited trio, with the glory of Offset's return shining through the entire project.
YRN 2 has no features and includes a wide range of producers, from the certified vets like Zaytoven and Will A Fool, to the young talents of Wheezy and OG Parker. As with most of Migos' releases, though, the different flows are what are most captivating. That includes the unique flows of each of the three members, as well as the consummate flow that's achieved when they come together -- always something greater than the sum of its parts.
Listen to and download YRN 2 below, and then check out our recaps of the 5 craziest flows heard on the tape.
Offset's Verse on the Intro
YRN 2 begins with a beat from the OG Will A Fool (who also lends a lighter production to the tape's final track, "Chapter 1," a joyous finish to what's mostly an attitude-heavy lyrical smackdown). There's a little bit of chatter to start the "Intro," as the trio settles into the dark bando sound. Once Quavo starts rapping, though, everyone's dialed in for the remainder of the tape.
YRN 2 is the first mixtape Migos has released since Offset returned to the group after spending almost eight months in prison. Will they sound better than ever now that they're back together? Was there something missing from the Migos sound while he was locked up? These were questions on every fan's mind, and listeners of YRN 2 would soon discover that the answers were obvious all along: Of course the group is more fired up now that they're longtime crewmate, and blood relative, is free.
We have to wait for Quavo and Takeoff to go first, but at the 3:40 mark, Offset takes over and sets the precedent for the rest of the tape: "History repeat itself, I got locked up again, and came home to the Benjamins," rapped in the epitome of what the triplet flow should sound like.
Of course he's been honing his skills in his jail cell for the better part of a year, and of course, going through what he has, his words are gonna come packed with some extra bite.
The Hook on "WOA"
Takeoff leads "WOA" by casually listing off a few words of importance, "big, body, Benz," one note at a time. That bar is completed with a cackling "dab!" from Quavo, who, along with Offset, also delivers animated ad-libs a half note behind each of Takeoff's emphatic lyrics. A resounding "whoa" is a fitting end to the progression here.
Big, body, Benz, dab
Cookies, perkys, molly, zan
Frostbite, spotlight, cheat code, G-code
Diamonds, gold, neck, whoa
On paper, the hook doesn't look too groundbreaking, but the above transcription doesn't include the ad-libs or take into account the three wildly different personalities who each take part in building the song's rhythm -- which doesn't sink in until the hook is repeated a second time, as Takeoff's lead and the steady background antics of his group members attain an irresistible cohesiveness.
"WOA" shows what having three heads on the same mic can do, especially when the back and forth's are this natural, as Migos grew up rapping this way.
Quavo's Hook + Opening Verse on "Chances"
"Chances / I done took a whole lotta chances," Quavo raps to begin "Chances." The rest of the hook proceeds in similar fashion -- each line begins with the same word it ends with, and those disparate terms are tied together with quick, one-sentence anecdotes. It's a common formula for Migos -- using seemingly random words and phrases to put together something of a narrative.
But Quavo goes on to prove his real storytelling ability on the verse that ensues. The lyrics are rapped in the same way they usually are -- in the quick, carefully enunciated triplet style, and the pause after each bar is filled in by Quavo himself, as though he's saying, "let that shit sink in." What's different is these lyrics don't seem like totally improvised one-liners. There's detailed imagery, and Quavo builds a tense atmosphere that can only be described as "Nawfside bando."
The relatively sparse, spooky production allows Quavo's voice to command the listener's full attention, which he's able to retain even as he slows to a near whisper toward the end of his verse.
Takeoff's Opening Verse on "Commando"
Takeoff is relatively soft-spoken during interviews, though his incredibly deep voice comes alive when he raps, and on "Commando," it's filled with riveting aggression. He's the fastest rapper in Migos, and he might just be the meanest. Migos have discussed the rampant biting of their style and their flows, and the lack of credit with which they've been rewarded, but on "Commando," one can hear the anger -- and the passion with which he claims ownership over everything Migos stands for -- in Takeoff's voice. Emotion this raw can rarely be concocted in the studio, though it's clear throughout YRN 2 the group has been on an inspired mission to prove its unique artistry.
He goes non-stop for over two minutes, and at a rate of at least three words a second, that's mighty impressive.
The Entirety of "Bars"
A Migos song called "Bars"? Bet you didn't see that coming. The Migos formula includes so much more than just "bars," but on this track, each member proves he's an immensely talented lyricist. No proof is necessary if you arrived at "Bars" after listening to the tape's first nine tracks, but it's a statement Migos needed to make as their rapping abilities remain criminally underrated.
It also must be noted that "Bars" boasts an incredible Zaytoven production -- the synths just sizzle with funk behind the 808s. It's trap, but the musicianship of Zaytoven is undeniable -- and the Migos proceed to prove the same goes for themselves.
They didn't invent the triplet flow, but right now, they do it better than anyone else. No one puts the same attitude into each and every syllable, with spontaneous shifts in energy in sync with the beat. In just under 5 minutes, each emcee drops off more bars than heard on your average solo freestyle.
Quavo is the guy for witty, sometimes hilarious, punchlines, Takeoff provides the rapid-fire adrenaline rush, and Offset comes with the unwavering toughness. Each one of them comes with "bars."