On his second studio full-length
USEE4YOURSELF, Maryland rapper
IDK brings his personality to the forefront, exploring complex emotions in a way that was only hinted at on earlier projects. Though his early EPs and 2019 studio debut
Is He Real? touched on themes of struggle and trauma,
IDK lays it all out in specific detail here. This ranges from bluntly expressing insecurity about how critics will rate his music on "Dogs Don't Lie" to vulnerable autobiographical lyrics of complicated family dynamics on "Hey Auntie." The emotional upheaval is balanced out by tracks that are fun and irreverent, and
IDK's sometimes-barbed internal world is padded by an impressive list of guest features.
Slick Rick,
Offset,
the Neptunes,
Rico Nasty, and
Young Thug all make appearances, and highlight cut "Red" features
MF Doom, Jay Electronica, and
Westside Gunn all contributing verses over an inventive trap beat.
IDK's personality shines on
USEE4YOURSELF, at times recalling the wild mix of energy and self-consciousness that made
Graduation-era
Kanye so captivating. Presenting raw emotion and over-the-top braggadocio with such exacting balance is part of
IDK's talent, and he delivers on
USEE4YOURSELF like never before. ~ Fred Thomas