Gumbo Album Review: Young Nudy Devoured

Music 

Gumbo Album Review: Young Nudy Devoured 

By Dylan Barbee

 

Photo from @youngnudy on Instagram

Release Date: 2/27/2023

Since dropping “Yeah Yeah” in 2016 on his Slimeball album and then collabing with his cousin 21 Savage to create the rambunctious but popular trap song “EA” in 2017, Young Nudy’s artistic styles have only become more prominent through recent years. His voice is very distinguishable especially when his flow seems effortless over unworldly trap production. Nudy also continues to surround himself with other eminent names who have defined the trap genre we experience today like Playboi Carti, Pi’erre Bourne, and Lil Uzi Vert.

His latest release “Gumbo” has 13 songs all named after various foods that make up a runtime of a 44 minute listen. Most songs consist of grungy trap drums and basslines over hypnotic synths. Young Nudy continues to rap about his lifestyle in Zone 6, Atlanta where he encounters gang violence when slanging a gun. 

Young Nudy’s flows on this project are creative where he floats organically over experimental beats. Nudy raps how he has become addicted to committing armed robberies and how he has found a sense of himself when surrounded by other fellow gang members on the song "Shrimp". This beat that could be used as a retro arcade game’s theme song due to it’s light hearted high-pitched synth loop. Although Nudy’s lyrics portray confrontational and violent “in your face” situations, he somehow manages to balance this with his laid-back voice where at times you can still enjoy the sound of the music without breaking down the context. Nudy also tried rapping over a laid back production style on the song “Passion Fruit” where he reflects on how he spends his time with a loyal love interest. The production of “Passion Fruit” is chill and vibrant as it serves as a catchy and playful love song that has the potential to go mainstream.

The two features that appear on the album both offer notable verses that naturally flow and carry on the song without force. Key Glock boasts about having a gun in his possession and will act with it if anyone threatens him or puts him in danger on the song “Pot Roast” which is a 3 minute and 9 second song that goes by fairly fast. 21 Savage talks about a female interest who has gained his attention on a late night out on the song “Peaches and Eggplants” which is the best verse from a feature on this project due to its ability to be catchy and frisky at the same time. Nudy also adds comedic, out of pocket, but catchy ad libs throughout the song's runtime of 3 minutes and 24 seconds.

Overall, Young Nudy has dropped a polished and well thought out project that is a relatively easy listen throughout. While at times it may seem that the Atlanta artist has not strayed away from the grungy style that blew him up, Nudy’s intricate flows are innovative and offer an ethereal experience for listeners.

Rating: 8/10