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On June 11, Louisiana rapper JayDaYoungan released his tenth mixtape, 23 Is Back. The project comes more than a year after his debut studio effort, Baby23. Unlike his previous album, 23 Is Back includes no features and has a short 27-minute runtime. Is JayDaYoungan truly back with this tape, or should he take some time off to improve his craft? Let's find out.
1. Lego
I'm surprised that I somewhat enjoyed this track. The beat is hard-hitting, and Jay does justice by spitting a catchy hook and a fire verse over it. However, it's not really my type of music, but I can see myself putting this on rotation. I'm giving this track a 7/10.
2. Spot Em
This track has pretty bad mixing, to start off. The vocals fade in and out, and I can't really hear what Jay is saying at times. I do like the beat, but the hook is too off-beat, although I appreciate Jay's energy. I'm giving this track a 6.5/10.
3. ZaZa
I think the hook on this track is awful, because Jay just mumbles his way through it. The beat is nothing special, although it is decent, and I feel like Jay doesn't come with the energy he should've come with. I'm giving this track a 5.5/10.
4. What's Wrong With You
I kind of like the hook on this track, and the beat is also pretty good. I feel like Jay could've squeezed in another verse instead of a 50-second long outro, which felt unnecessary. Other than that, this track wasn't anything special, but it was decent enough, so I'm giving it a 6.5/10.
5. Hellcat
Jay's emotion on this track is what seals the deal for me. The beat is crafted nicely, and it tailors to Jay's bars, where he opens up. There's also an array of clever lines, and it contrasts from the previous tracks on this tape. I'm giving this track a 7.5/10, and I can see myself returning to it a lot in the future.
6. Bankroll
The hook on this track is pretty decent, although the beat feels more generic than the others on this album. I only expect the production to go down from here, mainly because I've heard the same thing previously on this tape. I'm giving this track a 6.5/10, because it's nothing special.
7. Looking For You
This track is a nice little love ballad (which probably doesn't sit well after news broke that Jay allegedly assaulted his pregnant girlfriend), and I enjoy the beat a tad bit more than the previous instrumentals on this album. I'm giving this track a 7/10, because I probably will be returning to it a bit.
8. Murder
I don't get why this is the biggest non-single from the tape so far, as it is pretty generic. The beat is decent but nothing new, and Jay comes with a half-assed hook that sounds like it should've stayed in the booth. I hope this isn't the start of weaker tracks on the tape. I'm giving this track a 5.5/10.
9. Tear Drops
This is a very introspective track from Jay, and although the beat is generic, the emotion in his lines really touch the heart. You can hear the pain in his voice, which is a great addition to this track. I'm giving this song an 8/10, and I can see myself returning to it a lot in the future.
10. Young Niggas
I like the change in production this time, and I'm really enjoying the vibes with this one. It's bouncy and captures what Jay can really do. The hook is also catchy, and I'll definitely be putting this onto a playlist the second I can. I'm giving this track a strong 7.5/10.
11. Shit Bag
This track is very brash, and Jay comes through with some extremely menacing bars. I enjoy that in a song, and with all due respect to Will Rogers, I never listened to a menacing song I didn't like. I'm giving this track a 7/10.
12. Tell Me The Truth
Not really anything special coming from this track, although it's not bad, either. I just can't see myself putting it on any playlist or listening to it that much ever again. The beat is also pretty generic, so I'm giving this track a 6/10.
13. Confidential Decisions
To close out the album, Jay delivers a generic yet emotional track filled with painful lines. However, there's not that much energy behind the pain, but I guess you can't have energy when you're broken. I'm giving this track a 6.5/10.
FINAL RATING: 6.7/10
BEST TRACK: Tear Drops
WORST TRACK: ZaZa
SUMMARY:
Although the production doesn't switch up much, 23 Is Back by JayDaYoungan is a surprisingly versatile mixtape from an artist many seem to have stopped listening to. Jay provides an array of topics to rap about on the project, from knocking off his opps to love to dealing with grief, and he proves that he is much more than an artist with a few big tracks. Maybe this can be the start of Jay's comeback into the game? Only time will tell, but for now, 23 Is Back is a reminder of what JayDaYoungan can do.
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