By the time December 31st rolls around, there will no doubt be a sect of people who feel comfortable deeming 2017 as the year of Lil Uzi Vert. With "XO Tour Life" elevating him from mixtape rapper to a legitimate commercial juggernaut, Uzi's strong melodic vibes and unique swagger helped establish him as the game's most trusted newcomer. And while his profile has certainly raised, Lil Uzi remains at his strongest when working with some of his longtime collaborators, like the storied Atlanta veteran Zaytoven. Speaking of which, Zaytoven recently dropped his latest mixtape, Where Would The Game Be Without Me 2, a rhetorical-but-not-really humble brag.
There's no denying that Zaytoven has established himself as one of Atlanta's most trusted beatmakers, and since ATL is basically running the game right now, Zay's influence reaches further than you might know. Having once claimed to never spend more than ten minutes on a beat, Zaytoven comes through with a banger on "Alot," providing Lil Uzi with classic southern 808s, trap hi-hats, and a tense synth arpeggio. It's an instrumental that encourages going in, and while Uzi might not be the likeliest candidate to deliver non-stop bars, he certainly comes through with a valiant effort.
Obviously, the "yeah" flow makes a brief appearance, but only at the beginning. Eventually, Uzi is snapping, dropping clever lines with an aggressive and exciting delivery. "My whip, she hoppin' in, helicopter then I chopper in, the girl on my side so bad, but too bad the scale only stop at ten," raps Uzi, and this time around, his bravado feels more focused and less carefree. It's ultimately a good look for the young rapper, who can sometimes fall victim to favoring style over substance.
If you haven't already, go check out Zaytoven's mixtape, which also features appearances from Quavo, Future, and Ty Dolla $ign.
Quotable Lyrics
My whip, she hoppin' in,
Helicopter then I chopper in,
The girl on my side so bad
But too bad the scale only stop at ten