Up 2 Më

Yeat’s debut album, <i>Up 2 Më</i>, became one of 2021’s hottest albums—even before it was released. The record’s first single, “Gët Busy”, arrived in September of 2021, though snippets made waves across the music world thanks to a particular line that caught fire: “This song already was turnt, but here’s a bell.” That line became a phenomenon that Yeat parlayed into a career. He cashed in on the track’s success and created one of 2021’s most memorable rap records—<i>Up 2 Më</i>. Taking inspiration from melodic-rap savants like Young Thug and Playboi Carti, Yeat spends the entirety of the album blending crafty one-liners with infectious warbles, creating a kind of alien rap that is referential and unique. On “Morning mudd,” the masked MC croons rap lines both invented and already established as tropes, cueing up bars over rich synths that accent his Auto-Tune-drenched voice perfectly. He spits, “Blew a dub on a beat, not a quarter, not a dime/You ain't gettin' nothin' else no more, why you lyin'?” It’s an ode to Yeat’s favourite performance-enhancing beverage—lean—while also showcasing his elastic flow and ability to melt words around any beat. Elsewhere, like on “Rokstar”, Yeat taps into the videogame culture that has become such a prevalent part of 2020s’ rap. Over otherworldly synths and 8-bit drums, he lays out the highs and lows of being one of rap’s biggest rising stars. He spits, “Bitch, you ain't touched a mil', you don't know how I feel,” juxtaposing the joy of finally making it with the daunting task of using it wisely. It’s an experience that many other rappers have explored—but Yeat makes it his own with his inimitable style.