Gunna - DS4EVER Album Review

 

Released by YSL Records and 300 Entertainment on 7th January 2022

Gunna returns with his third studio album, DS4EVER, the fourth and final instalment of his Drip Season series that began in 2016. This marks the Atlantan-rappers first project since his 2020 album WUNNA which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. Unique album covers have become a staple of Gunna’s discography since Drip Season 3 was released in 2018, and that trend continues with DS4EVER designed by Daniel Arsham.

As the album begins with Private Island, Gunna repeatedly reflects on where he’s come from throughout the song as he raps about his past selling narcotics and knowing he would see better days. He also pays his respects to his close friend King Troup who passed away in 2015 ‘CIP Troup, I’m holding it down/You on my mind Charlie’.

Perhaps the most anticipated song on the album after a snippet was posted on Gunna’s Instagram, Pushin P features fellow Atlantan rappers Young Thug and Future. The trio extravagantly flip words beginning with p back and forth over a Wheezy produced beat claiming they are ‘pushin P’ the phrase which Gunna explained on Twitter the day before the album’s release. 

There’s a seven-track run that begins with thought i was playing featuring 21 Savage, and ends with 25k jacket featuring Lil Baby that showcases the versatility of Gunna’s artistry. 

Guns, money and violence are at the forefront of 21 Savage’s verse which comes as no surprise, and his ad-libs are more predictable than ever, yet necessary and add enough to the track to standout. However, with 21, it’s rare that he switches up the topics he raps about, but he has perfected his niche enough to perk up listeners’ ears everytime.

Florida-native Kodak Black features on how you did that for the artists first collaboration together, backed by a piano-heavy beat produced by Basobeats, Fano & Turbo. Since being released from prison last year, Kodak has been on a tear of his own and continues this showcasing his natural chemistry with Gunna as they go back and forth questioning lifestyle habits ‘you got fake stones in a real watch, how you did that?’

Long-time collaborator Metro Boomin delivers a familiar upbeat sound from previous Drip Season projects on ‘alotta cake’ as Gunna glides over the beat rapping about his money and luxury lifestyle. However, this positive outlook on his life quickly vanishes, as on the next track ‘livin wild’, Turbo samples Keith Sweats’ Why Me Baby? to deliver the most personal Gunna song to date. 

He opens the track rapping about how his lean addiction has caused him to have kidney failure, and he may need another liver. After being admitted to hospital in July 2021, it left many fans thinking drug use was the cause, however, when he was released after 17 days the rapper stated he actually had pneumonia, which he touches on in the second verse of the song. 

Gunna’s heartfelt lyrics allow him to connect with fans on a more personal level than we have heard before, and hearing the pain in his voice throughout the song combined with the jaw-dropping production solidify this as one of his best ever songs. 

During the lead-up to the release of DS4EVER, snippets being previewed and leaked online led to anticipation building on social media. ‘South to west’, the 10th track on the album was one of the snippets previewed that fans were hoping would make the final cut. Turbo’s heavy wind-instrument production allows Gunna to float throughout the entire 123 seconds of the track, almost as-if he’s taking a victory lap around his competition. 

It wouldn’t be a Gunna project without the other half of the Drip Harder duo, as Lil Baby appears on the flute-heavy 25k jacket. Although this is the duo’s 23rd collaboration, a lot is left to be desired as on first listen it left me unimpressed. 

Jewellery and ‘ice’ has been a major talking-point for the new generation of rappers that has emerged in the past half decade, particularly the core of Atlantan rappers like Gunna, Young Thug and Lil Baby. This trend continues on ‘flooded’, as Gunna raps about his jewellery that is dripped out with diamonds to the point of being ‘flooded’.

Gunna has treaded water into his R&B bag recently, most notably on songs such as ‘Tomorrow Till Infinity’ with Young Thug, and featuring on Chris Brown’s record ‘Heat’ off his 2019 album Indigo. It was still quite the surprise to see Breezy and Yung Bleu featured on the albums 16th track ‘die alone’. Brown’s and Bleu’s ability to deliver harmonising melodies over trap inspired beats compliments Gunna ability to deliver his mesmerising flow.

So far ahead > empire is the penultimate track on the album, where Gunna again reflects on his hard work thus far into his career as he can now live the lavish lifestyle he’s dreamed about as he raps ‘No remorse, glad I made that choice/Now we whippin’ Rolls Royce’. It serves as the perfect close to yet another solid album, and the end of the Drip Season series. Gunna has experimented with different sounds, samples, and even lyrics, yet stayed true to what has got him to this point in his young hip-hop career.

Due to social media, the criteria for having a successful album has increased ten-fold. Certified Lover Boy may be the perfect example of recent times as social media users were quick to lament the album as ‘mid’ when it did not live up to their extremely high expectations. Although it may not have had the bangers we are used to from Drake, it has aged gracefully since its release and I still find myself going back to listen to it now. There are songs on DS4EVER like mop, you & me, 25k jacket, idk that bitch, life of sin that may not appeal to me on first listen, but I’m certain I will revisit over time. However, this may be Gunna’s most complete body of work to-date due to the experimental nature, and I am a huge fan of WUNNA - it has no skips. Nevertheless, because of the fact he has drifted out of his comfort zone, and rapped about topics from the heart, I am a huge fan already. All that’s needed is the most anticipated snippet that was leaked prior to the album release - Pussy Power featuring Drake to be included with the deluxe version of DS4EVER. 

My Top 5 tracks right now:

livin wild
South to west
How you did that
Alotta cake 
Flooded