Without overtly saying so, one might conclude that he’s no longer turning to substances to combat feelings of depression. Not only does it speak to his growth as an artist, as a more intelligible delivery requires lyrical refinement, but also as a man. Dejected though he may sound, his newfound dedication to enunciation should not go unnoticed. Where “XO Tour Llif3” is a blurry, mush-mouthed, and pained - in other words, mumble-emo-rap- “P2” is blessed with clarity of voice. The shift in perspective is evidenced within his cadence. Given that Uzi expressed interest in kicking his Xanax habit back in 2016, it’s no surprise to see him steering away from using it as a means of escapism here. While it retains several lyrical parallels to its predecessor, “P2” features no mention of substance abuse - overt or otherwise.
Even when he’s firing off lines that should feel celebratory, those darker elements keep the song within a stone’s throw of celebratory.
Between the pained delivery and TM88’s haunting instrumental, it’s easy to analyze “XO Tour Life” as an emotionally devastating ballad. “I'm committed, not addicted, but it keeps control of me, all the pain, now I can't feel it.” Despite the song’s lyrics being otherwise focused on material dominance and polyamorous sexcapades, the aforementioned lyric makes his boasts feel closer to overcompensation than genuine flexes. “Please, Xanny, make it go away,” he pleads. For starters, the first part is riddled with mentions of substance abuse, with Uzi openly calling upon Xanax as a means of easing the pain. If “XO Tour Llif3” is Point A, and “P2” is Point B, it seems fitting to make note of any crucial differences. Suddenly, the similarities and differences become integral in understanding Uzi’s mind, a place otherwise guarded by cloudlike walls of fantastical imagery. One that showed a willingness to build on an existing narrative and revisit it with a renewed perspective. Tethered to the original by shared musical and thematic elements, Uzi’s latest closer was arguably the boldest musical move of his career thus far. As such, many fans were completely blindsided upon receiving the long-awaited Eternal Atake only to discover “P2,” a full-blown sequel. It didn’t take long for many to elevate “XO” to benchmark status, the bar future releases must surpass in order for artistic evolution to continue. Perhaps more relatable to the suburban consumer than other hip-hop themes tend to be, “XO Tour Llif3” soared up the charts, its nightmarish Lewis Carroll-esque production scoring the road to seven platinum plaques.Ī song of such magnitude becomes an instant milestone in a young rapper’s history book. The alchemical formula behind the “emo” genre, which rose to popularity in the mid to late two-thousands. Produced by TM88 and loosely chronicling Uzi’s mental space during his emotional breakup with longtime girlfriend Brittany Byrd. For many casual fans, who might have jumped on board following the breakout success of 2017’s “XO Tour Llif3,” the somber Luv Is Rage 2 closer became the definitive song of his catalog. To fully buy into the movement one must first unlearn everything they have learned about Lil Uzi Vert. In the process he also happened to conjure a fantastical world around him, not unlike the reality-blurring fancies of a morphine-induced coma patient. If anything, he played a pivotal role in creating a subgenre of melodic hip-hop, synesthetic in its display of parrotlike color. Marching to the beat of his own drum, Lil Uzi has continuously stood ahead of musical trends. But few artists strike as whimsical a chord as Baby Pluto. That’s not to say the strength of his catalog has ushered him there such a verdict still remains to be seen. Lil Uzi Vert has settled into the role of a generational talent. On "Eternal Atake," Lil Uzi Vert expanded on "XO Tour Llif3" with "P2," a sequel that provided deeper insight into his hopes and fears.
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