One really cool thing about Hip Hop is when an iconic producer hooks up with an iconic rapper(s) to try to make magic. Over the years, there have been so many joint producer/rapper collaborations that have been awesome. In recent history, I can think of Metro Boomin’s collaborations with Future, Madlib’s collaborations with Freddie Gibbs and Talib Kweli, and The Alchemist’s collaborations with Westside Gunn and Curren$y as really cool moments in Hip Hop that stand out amongst the vast amount of releases we get today. Speaking of The Alchemist, he recently made one of these collaborative kinds of records that was totally unexpected but could seemingly be super cool. He brought together two rappers that I definitely did not see coming together for a whole project, 2 Chainz and Larry June. This collaboration is exciting to me, as it contains one rapper I know a ton about and another I have not had a ton of exposure to. I have been a massive fan of 2 Chainz for more than a decade. He has always had this unique and sometimes comedic style of rapping that stands out in the best way and that I have always come back to. 2 Chainz is an Atlant Trap artist who has been able to reinvent himself and adapt many times over the years. It seems like no matter how much the Hip Hop landscape changes around him, he can always find a way to make his individualistic approach work. Larry June has been around for a long time as well, and has been a primary force in the West Coast underground Rap scene. He has always been known for his way of adapting the old-school Bay Area sound of artists like Mac Dre and E-40 to modern West Coast Hip Hop in a way that represents it and makes it fresh. Now, based on their backgrounds, 2 Chainze and Larry June seem like a weird combination, but sometimes this kind of outside-the-box thing can work. On this new album, Life Is Beautiful, curated by The Alchemist, it seems like the potential for something great is there. Both artists show what makes them special throughout the project, and a glimpse of what makes them unique is there. That said, I feel like this album is a bit more tame or even-keeled than I would have wanted, though. Considering the talent of both rappers and the producer, I feel like Life Is Beautiful could have been a bit more grand. Below, I wanted to highlight a feel of my favorite songs from this record, and then go into more overarching thoughts to close things out. Please let me know in the comments what your favorite songs are from Life Is Beautiful, and also comment on how you feel about it as a whole.
MUNYON CANYON
The album gets going on a pretty calm and lighthearted note with ‘Munyon Canyon.’ This track has the kind of sultry and hazy sound that most people would probably associate with The Alchemist. The melody is driven by an ethereal vocal sample that is complemented by a groovy bassline and some synths. The melody is put on top of a very light beat. Larry June sounds so natural on the instrumental, with his low tone and smooth flow sliding so nicely. Admittedly, as adaptable as he is, I did not know how 2 Chainz would fare on this kind of instrumental. In this case, he sounds very natural. His higher tone contrasts the gruff sound of Larry June nicely, and his calm flow slides on the beat just as easily as Larry’s does. 2 Chainz and Larry June certainly show they can mesh very well on this track. ‘Munyon Canyon’ is a very solid introduction to this collaboration for the record.
BAD CHOICES
‘Bad Choices’ was the lead single from this project. When I heard this one, I definitely became even more excited about the potential of this project. When I first heard this one, I thought that something special could be here. The instrumental is driven by a melancholy and Soulful vocal sample that is so retro and gritty. The mixing on the sample is glitchy and gives the song a harsh element, and the sample is complemented by a dark bass line and put on top of a soft yet impactful beat that gives it priority. The counteracting ways of rapping from 2 Chainz and Larry June really make this one pop. 2 Chainz raps with a more energetic tone and flow that gives the track emphasis that contrasts the instrumental. Larry June has Avery silky tone and flow that gives the track a very inviting tone. ‘Bad Choices’ was a solid single choice for the record, as it brings out something great in both artists.
GENERATION
‘Generation’ is probably the heaviest and hardest sound on the record. This one certainly stands out for how much more punchy it is. The melody has a lot more of a melancholy or forlorn sound to it than anything that precedes it(or follows it) on the record. This melody is almost intrepid and pulls away from the more calm feeling of the rest of the record. The beat for ‘Generation’ stands out for how tough it is as well. It has a gritty Trap sound that pounds and gives this track so much life. Surprisingly, the rapping from 2 Chainz and Larry June on this one is pretty relaxed compared to the beat. I thought they would rap with more power or urgency on this one, but they actually dialed it back. This works out pretty well though, as the more easygoing way that these two rap contrast the instrumental and actually make the song pop even more. This album needed a tougher song to bring some life to the album, and ‘Generation’ acccomplishes that.
EPIPHANY
‘Epiphany’ is the slowest and most atmospheric song from the record that I picked from this list. To put it briefly, this is just smoking music. Everything about this track makes me want to light one up and go for a cruise. The keyboard that drives this one is so cozy and floaty. The sound effects that complement it make it even more murky. The beat for ‘Epiphany’ is light and breezy, matching up with the melody perfectly. I have always thought 2 Chainz can excel on these sorts of instrumentals because his flow and tone will give it some buzz, and that is certainly the case here. I would even say that 2 Chainz sort of dominates this one, as Larry June’s performance does not grab me as much. His verse is solid and doesn’t pull the song down in any way, but 2 Chainz does take the cake on this one. If you are looking for a new song to add to your late-night puffing playlist, ‘Epiphany’ is a good choice.
JEAN PROUVÉ
2 Chainz, Larry June, and The Alchemist end the song with one of the more weighty and grand cuts in ‘Jean Prouvé.’ This song feels so all-encompassing and bold compared to most of the rest of the project. The melody is very balmy and very bold. It is driven by a deep bass line that is complemented by grand synths that make me feel like I am ascending into space when I hear it. The way the 808s pound on this one makes the song feel pushy and huge and it makes the beat mesh with the melody perfectly. Whereas ‘Epiphany’ is a track where 2 Chainz stands out, Larry June carries ‘Jean Prouvé.’ His tone and flow work so nicely on this track and really add to its massive feel. 2 Chainz of course does his thing as well, adding texture to the track with his unique flow and vocal style. ‘Jean Prouvé’ sends the record out on a pretty monumental note, and it feels like an epic climax for this record.
As I stated in the introduction, I had no idea what to expect when coming into Life Is Beautiful. All three of these musicians are super talented and stand out in their own way, and I did not know how they would sound considering how different they are from each other. Regardless of stylistic differences, one would expect a collaboration between The Alchemist, 2 Chainz, and Larry June to have a lot of quality due to their individual prowess, though. Now, I do not want to say I was totally underwhelmed by Life Is Beautiful, but I did expect a bit more. Throughout this project, it is almost like each artist was constantly trying to find their footing with each other and find out what actually works and doesn’t work. At times, the chemistry between Larry June and 2 Chainz is great, and at others it is iffy. This goes for not only their flows and vocal styles but also their lyrics. 2 Chainz goes with his comedic way of rapping a lot of the time, which can conflict with the more introspective nature of Larry June. One thing I would have appreciated more is if some of the instrumentals leaned more toward the style of 2 Chainz. This project has a lot of typical The Alchemist-style production, which bodes very well with the sound of Larry June, and it is as if 2 Chainz is playing catch up. 2 Chainz is able to do his thing and make it work, but it would have been cool to see what Larry June would sound like on the big Trap music 2 Chainz is known for. The layout and sound of this project are very safe. I feel like some more risks in instrumental style would have brought out more in both rappers. Overall, though, there is still a good amount to enjoy on Life Is Beautiful. Even though it is not what it could have(or should have) been, the talent of these three shines through. Life Is Beautiful is a solid album and a decent amalgamation of some of the most individualistic artists in Hip Hop today.
EAST SIDE VIBES 