The
YBN collective formed out of the boredom and aspirations of a community of teenagers who started out more excited about online gaming but snapped into rap superstardom with the help of some breakthrough singles in 2017. Though the crew has upwards of ten members,
YBN was formed around the core talents of three members:
YBN Nahmir,
YBN Almighty Jay, and
YBN Cordae. Over the course of this hour-long mixtape, these three rappers collect some of the best moments from their rise to fame, including their hits and other tracks that define their individual styles. In
YBN, there are echoes of some of the great crews of rap history. An obvious parallel can be drawn between
YBN and
Odd Future, both marked by excitable teenage energy and a strange collision of talents that made something greater than the sum of its parts. This is especially true in regard to the wildly different approach of each member. To a lesser degree, there are hints of
N.W.A. and
Wu Tang, if only in the way that each new song showcases individual talents under the umbrella of a group energy. Tracks featuring
Nahmir and
Almighty Jay are all threats, swag, and brags set to dramatic trap beats and showcasing how each approaches the mike with their own distinct recklessness or aloof cockiness.
Cordae is far and away the most lyrically proficient of the bunch, with meticulously crafted lyrical Venn diagrams and a natural way about his storytelling. His track "Kung Fu" highlights his versatility while "Target" rides an almost throwback beat as
Cordae weaves a story about a run in with the law.
Nahmir and
Almighty Jay are both strongest on their best-known songs, which are included here in the form of
Nahmir's ecstatic "Rubbin' Off the Paint" and jagged "Bounce Out with That," and
Almighty Jay's narcotic "Chopsticks" and gleefully showboating "2 Tone Drip." When the various members come together, things feel more experimental, as on the awkward groove of "Make Me Feel," the dead-end verses of "Bread Winners," and the minimal electro slog of the
Gucci Mane-featuring "New Drip." It is a mixtape, after all, so these less consistent moments make sense as offhanded inclusions in a larger collection, but they sound pale when placed beside the best the individual crew members have to offer. With the level of charisma displayed on hits by
Nahmir and
Almighty Jay, and the technical talent
Cordae achieves on his best material,
YBN is already past the point of merely showing potential. At their best they're something incredible, and
YBN: The Mixtape is a document of both rare, raw talent and a group still trying on different styles as they hone their powers. ~ Fred Thomas