ALTERNATIVE, HIP-HOP/RAP, Interview, Music Reviews, New Artists, New Fire Music, TRAP/HIP HOP
YB ‘Provision’ Review
Aug
Bold Record’s very own, YB is an artist who lives to seize the day with God by his side. The creator of all great things has pushed YB to foresee possible dangers within society so that they can be addressed correctly. Additionally, YB unveils through lyrics that He has changed his life for the better. In essence, the singer/rapper is forever grateful for God’s glory and grace. If it weren’t for Him, YB wouldn’t be where he is today. YB’s musical styling carries a new-age approach, coupling trap elements with powerful messages about positive change, working hard, and resilience.
His 6-track album, Provision, addresses the topics mentioned above while showcasing his work ethic and views on life. Production-wise, Provision draws from warm trap beats, jazzy elements, pop, and gospel. In a nutshell, Provision awakes the masses, telling them to count their blessings. Likewise, the messages focus on what God has sacrificed, in turn, of us having a prosperous life. Unfortunately, current events have caused us to be down in the dumps, but Provision symbolically pushes one to keep fighting. If you want to know YB a bit more, this album will go in-depth about his backstory.
“In my life, I’ve seen more valleys than I have mountaintops, but by the Grace of God, I’m still here today with a vision to go out and be somebody, and in 2020 that’s huge!” he adds. “When I look back over my life, at every moment, I could have experienced a dead end. God opened a new door. So Provision to me is this fire to own the race set out before me because I’m only a small piece to a much greater story at hand.”
Sure tracks include “The Greatest,” “Distinguished,” and “Grace.”
The second song off Provision, “The Greatest,” sees YB putting his trust into God and the plans that He has set up for him. Over a wind percussion, booming bassline, and invigorating hi-hats, he raps lines like “I know he got us/Tears in my eyes when I see my life.” Elsewhere, the musician reveals that he’ll go against the grain when it comes to giving up. He keeps in mind that God has given him the strength to get through anything and says, “And I can’t let this break me/Yeah, took a hit now we back.” Before “The Greatest” ends, YB pays his respects to George Floyd, who sadly died because of police brutality. “It’s hard to judge a shade when my God great/We gon make it through, is my mind state,” he spits.
“Watching the news and digesting every social media after George Floyd hit home for me. I’m very social and typically love social encounters, but I wasn’t myself during that time,” he continues. “So I started hitting the producers I know searching for a record that would help me communicate this “valley” in my life and producer, GodFrame sent the right record.”
Next, “Distinguished” goes into detail about YB’s strong diligence, and how he’ll stop at nothing to succeed. Regardless of the speculations or obstacles, YB plans on going against the grain. As the song continues, YB unveils an incident where God protected him. He raps, “I could have crashed on the road a long time ago/But God kept me, I believe that.”
Then, he admits that his team only consists of his wife and daughter. Ultimately, he wants those he loves to be in good spirits. “My whole life been a negative/Sending love to my relatives,” he spits. Sonically, “Distinguished” is a mesh of gospel and warm trap beat. The beat also carries jazzy elements, piano loops, a booming bassline, and sporadic hi-hats.
Lastly, “Grace” sees YB tapping into his self-confidence. Throughout the track, he keeps a laid-back approach and speaks about his purpose in life, willingness to succeed, all while giving cred to the man upstairs. “If I send a message, it won’t be subliminal/Jesus Christ overall, the identicals,” he raps. Sonically, “Grace” gains slight inspiration from 88Glam‘s “Bankroll.” His cadence is swag-embed, to say the least, as he switches between auto-croon and fast flows. The song also embarks on his hustle mentality.