IDK - USEE4YOURSELF

 

Signs of IDK's sophomore album 'USEE4YOURSELF' first appeared with the fiery banger of a lead single, 'SHOOT MY SHOT' featuring Offset. The minimal bassline, quaking 808s, and sirens are a blazing supplement for IDK's catchy hook and Offset's entertaining braggadocious verse. 'SHOOT MY SHOT' is not the only banger on the record. After the opening '3018091821', IDK unleashes a furious flow in the sweetly cacophonic banger, 'Santa Monica Blvd.' The 808s here are nicely immense with the ominous choir sample, while the 'ayy' vocal effects are catchy. There is also 'Pradadabang,' where IDK join forces with Young Thug. Javale Mcgee makes a fruitful appearance on the production booth as he delivers a sweet trippy trap instrumental. Sadly, 'Pradadabang' does feature a somewhat weak hook. 

In the lead up to the album, IDK teased a thematic of the album, that is 'the results of toxic masculinity instilled into his mind at an early age,' with 'Peloton.' In 'Peloton', the toxic masculinity within his upbringing has affected IDK's view on relationships and women. He is conflicted. He is unsure how to treat a lover. Does he follow what his mother said and 'treat her like a lady?' Or does he follow what his supposed friend suggests, which is to 'treat her like a thot'? IDK also delivers intriguing bars of criticising gold diggers, especially on his second verse. Sonically, the track is delightful, especially with the sampling of the Stylistics' 'Payback is a Dog' making for a heavenly instrumental. IDK meanwhile also delivers an enjoyable chorus. In 'Dogs Don't Lie,' IDK raps of his struggle of finding trust in relationships over a pleasant choir sample in 'Dogs Don't Lie.' Also, he questions why 'everybody calling him an asshole even when they ask for IDK's honesty' as he observes 'people changing who they are to slay.' 

'Red' could have been a great track. The violin pattern, thumping 808s, and the earworm vocal sample makes for a sweet instrumental. Westside Gunn's presence is short and sweet. IDK, despite sounding like Kanye West at first, harmonises well with Gabby! in the chorus. A bit odd to have MF DOOM's appearance on this track to be credited as a feature, but his short post-chorus is fine. What ruins 'Red' sadly is Jay Electronica's closing verse. I do not know who gave the go-ahead to let Jay Electronica drop obnoxious anti-vax, covid conspiracy bars. It gets worse when I recalled that Westside Gunn himself is a Covid-19 survivor. I am just left puzzled. 

After the 'Jelly' interlude, which ends emotionally with IDK saying, 'I lost my mom, so there's no woman that could ever do anything to me that's worse than that feeling', IDK performs his best singing performance on 'Puerto Rico.' IDK sounds blissful, especially in the track's chorus and with the pleasant choir vocals and violin. Lucky Daye also delivers a decent feature verse in the meanwhile. Following 'Temporary Love' and a decent collaboration with T-Pain at '10 Feet', IDK continues the 'the personal impact of toxic masculinity' theme on 'Keto.' In 'Keto,' IDK delivers verses of brutal imagery about wanting to kill his stepfather. As a result, it seems IDK's stepfather is the attributor to the toxic masculinity that IDK suffered during his upbringing. In '1995', IDK goes on a deep dive on how neglectful his stepfather was, especially in the lines, 'Stepfather ain't coming home, he getting head, claiming he busy, on a business trip, when he with a trick, she sucking.' As a result of his stepfather's neglect, love seemed like a confusing concept to IDK. It also affected how he saw men and revenge. Then after 'Peloton', IDK emotionally dreams of a childhood with a loving family in 'Hey Auntie,' over a suitably skeletal piano and murky 808s. However, IDK's trauma from getting molested is ruining that fantasy of his. In the penultimate 'Cry in Church,' an emotionally intense cut, the earnest IDK raps of his struggles of loneliness now and during his upbringing over a more stripped back instrumental. IDK is rich but sits alone. He would rather be broke as hell and be hand-in-hand with someone. The current loneliness reminds him of the loneliness in his upbringing. His mama was not home when he was five years old, so Blue's Clues raised him, the Cheerios saved him, and the porno his stepfather hid away changed him. 'Cry in Church' additionally includes a touching DMX spoken word passage that fits IDK's understanding of love. Finally, the album concludes with the moving 'Closure,' a phone call between IDK and his mother. Here, IDK wished that his mom taught him about love as much as she did with religion. That way, toxic masculinity would not have skewed IDK's views on love. Additionally, IDK also felt that his mother should have protected his innocence better but ultimately forgives her. 

'USEE4YOURSELF' is riveting and moving through IDK's introspections on how toxic masculinity in his childhood has affected his views on love. Additionally, the record included enjoyable bangers and melodic cuts. Only the questionable moment of Jay Electronica's verse did limit my enjoyment. However, overall, this is a quality effort from IDK. 

Best Track(s): Cry In Church, SHOOT MY SHOT, Peloton, Puerto Rico 

7.75/10

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