[junkie-dropcap]R[/junkie-dropcap]espect. That is the topic. Since his first Beach House mixtape, LA’s Ty Dolla $ign has delivered the goods. Rather than leaning on trends, he sets them. And instead of chasing the limelight he lets his passion for good vibes and great music bring attention to his doorstep. On his debut record Free TC the singer-songwriter extraordinaire wove Hollywood dreams into the harsh realities of LA street life. Ty Dolla really made it from nothing. Ty Dolla really puts on for his people. And, of course, Ty Dolla really fucks these hoes. From the beginning he has been the best of both worlds. He parties with the big shots yet stands with the voiceless. Just listen to “No Justice” or “Miracle / Wherever” if you need a refresher on who he rides for. His dual approach gifts him the ability to appeal to the masses and the homies alike.
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On his third full-length solo effort, Ty furthers his craftsmanship with the same swagger we know and love. At 25 tracks in total, I worried he gave in to the stream-troll tendencies of his peers. Alas, I should have known better. Because Featuring Ty Dolla $ign commits to creating a seamless listening experience . And he did it all in under an hour. Most songs here fall between 90 and 165 seconds in length, which on the surface sounds insufficient. However, every track feels complete for the most part. Big-name guest after big-name guest appear here in succession, generating a vortex of celebrity star power fit for a Grammy ceremony. Despite a couple misses, the features he chose for this record shine bright. I’ll start with the ones I did not enjoy. Gunna… I hate I have to put it like this but… you unfortunately ruin songs for me, sir.
Ty Dolla $ign | Getty Images for The Recording Academy / Emma McIntyreEven though “Powder Blue” is one of the catchiest hits across this tracklist, Gunna nearly stifles Ty’s avalanche-sized momentum. On the previous song, “Dr. Sebi,” Young Thug performs an uncredited and phenomenal lead-up interlude for the crisp bounce “Powder Blue” emits. Ty Dolla kills it with the hook melody and verse flow. Nevertheless, Gunna’s contribution comes off so flaccid and unoriginal that a segment of silence would probably fit better. He’s simply too carbon-copy for my taste. Also, the Post Malone-assisted “Spicy” disappointed me. While the three pre-release singles underwhelmed me at first, they all grew on me in the context of the record. With the exception of “Spicy,” that is. Post Malone and Travis Scott are two artists that need to set their own personal aesthetic. When they’re in their zone they’re most effective. “Spicy” needed more of a signature Post sound to truly stand out, in my opinion.
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Other than those, I loved every feature, finding them to fit their roles well and give competent or, occasionally, exceptional performances. On second thought, Quavo’s verse wasn’t that great either. But that beat is dope enough for me to excuse his wash-rinse-repeat material. Kid Cudi, FKA twigs, Kehlani, and Roddy Rich excel here and deserve your ear. Anderson .Paak continues his streak of stellar exhibitions. Additionally, hearing Musiq Soulchild make an appearance warmed my soul. Dude is the most underappreciated R&B voice of his generation. All in all, Featuring Ty Dolla $ign is not about one song or even one person. It’s about watering the whole and serving a high-quality range of tones and ideas. I’ve played the album at least 12 times by now. I am yet to tire of it. More meaningful lyrics would be nice, but ultimately not necessary when the vibe’s this tight and fleshed out.
