Formerly known as Yea Yea, former 108Mics artist insight subject Ya Mean has made another bold career move with a smattering of new singles and EPs. In this brief insight, I will examine the music that the rapper has made in the five months since I last wrote of him.
The most notable drop from this collection, and the song that Ya Mean himself was most eager for me to write about, is ‘09 Wayne’. Immediately it’s easy to see why the song is called that, as throughout the track the two artists involved (long time collaborator XellFromHell contributed a verse here too) imitate Weezy’s syrupy singing from his Rebirth/I Am Not A Human Being era. The vocal performances are crazy here, the kind of lean-soaked incomprehensibility that Wayne himself forged much of his career from.
Another collaboration comes in the form of his work with British producer Sixtythree666, whose dark trap-inspired melodies on ‘supposed2stunt’, ‘thatsfuckddup’ and ‘st1ll breathing’ confirm that he’s still one of the most exciting underground producers in existence. Ya Mean utilises autotune in the way it was always meant to be used, an enhancement for his thick drawl that leads to some intoxicating vocal melodies. His energy reaches an apex on the last song, where the almost-screamed delivery recalls Carti’s Whole Lotta Red and the anger conveyed in the rapper’s music really comes to a head.
Ya Mean’s newest drop is one of his most exciting yet. Titled ‘sippinontec’, the song features one of the most punishing beats in Sixtythree’s arsenal, and one of the most intense, washed-out vocal barrages ever featured on one of them. Another top-tier collaboration unveils itself here, as Cybernetic Snake unleashes the same fury in his slippery guest spot. Although he is far from dependent on Sixtythree to make great music, it is fair to say that as a duo those two leave nothing but scorched earth wherever they go. In summary, the many-named rapper has continued to feed us with superb-sounding music, giving his absolute all in his quest to remind everyone of his place in the game.
Listen to Ya Mean’s project with Sixtythree below.
– Chris (@108seraph)
108MICS 