On his fourth studio album
A Gangsta's Pain, Memphis rapper
Moneybagg Yo explores various sides of his personality and bends different styles around his uncompromising lyrical approach. Across a sprawling 22-song list,
Moneybagg Yo gets into mellow trap-tinged R&B sex jams ("One of Dem Nights" featuring guest hooks sung by
Jhene Aiko), melodic, Auto-Tuned sung rap tracks with pop undercurrents (album standout "Hard for the Next" featuring a guest appearance from
Future), and even minimal futuristic production on the
Pharell-assisted track "Certified Neptunes." Even with these expansions to
Moneybagg's street-tested trap sound, he sounds at his best when he's executing more familiar material. His inventive triplet flow powers the sinister bounce of "Shottas (Lala)," and the straightforward verses on "Time Today" make it the album's smartest, toughest, and most direct track. When he's in trap mode or rapping over mournful piano loops on struggle tracks like "Free Promo" with
Polo G and
Lil Durk,
Moneybagg Yo sounds at home and in complete control. ~ Fred Thomas