After A Year Of Inconsistent Albums, Logic Delivers

Photo Courtesy / Spotify

Cole Tamarri

Assistant Managing

Logic begins his new album, “Young Sinatra IV,” with a nod to his second album, “The Incredible True Story,” as the adventurous narrators from the 2015 album introduce the first song “Thank You.”

The sound on this song and the whole mixtape harkens back to ‘90s hip-hop, the “boom-bap” style that the Maryland-born rapper credits as influences in his music.

Like his other work, it is very personal, introspective on a hard life while trying to maintain an upbeat perspective.

“Everybody Dies” is an unremarkable song, but the following song, “The Return” are reminiscent of the flow, creativity of Logic’s earlier mixtapes and albums.

Arjun Ivatury, credited as 6ix on the album, does an amazing job of chopping up samples that create a mood that flows through the entire project.

What makes Logic so good is his ability to tell his story in a way that makes the listener relate and feel that his experience is their own.

This is perfectly depicted within the song “The Glorious Five,” as he talks about his father and his desire to have a better relationship with his children.

“One Day” feels very much like a single for the radio, and the idea of that song in that place is great, but Ryan Tedder as the featured artist on that song does not fit the overall mood of the album.

The Wu-Tang Clan is featured on the self titled song, “Wu-Tang Forever,” and Logic’s flow perfectly matches the aggressive style of the Clan and it does not disappoint.

If you need a song to help focus during writing that term paper, this song is it and should be on a study playlist.

Normally songs over six minutes on a mixtape are usually a red flag, but there is no fat to trim off this song.

“100 Miles and Runnin” begins with the classic hip-hop sample from the Incredible Bongo Band, “Apache.” It’s electric with great energy and Wale’s feature on this track is one of the best features I have heard from albums this year.

“Ordinary Day” sounds like a song that belonged on his Bobby Tarantino II mixtape, but it works  with the Haliee Steinfield and the synthesized keyboard keeps the upbeat mood going.

“YSIV” opens with a nod to Mac Miller, who passed away Sept. 7, three weeks before the release of this mixtape. Logic uses this track to vent his frustrations about people in the music business and reminiscence on the beginning of his rap career with Miller.

Big Lenbo, a co-producer on the mixtape, raps the catchy line, “Life’s a bitch and then you die. That’s why we get high, ‘cause you never know when you gonna go” reminiscent of Notorious B.I.G’s opening on “Suicidal Thoughts.

“The Adventures of Stoney Bob” is another insight into the occasional marijuana-fueled studio sessions and the creative process.

It’s a loose and free-flowing track with lines by Big Lenbo again, another track I recommend for the study playlist with a chill vibe beat.

The two final tracks on the mixtape, “Iconic,” and “Last Call” are nods to Logic’s contemporaries, Jaden Smith, and Kanye West’s final track on his first album, College Dropout.

This mixtape is the curtain call for “Young Sinatra,” one of Logic’s alternate personas and it is a fitting conclusion to this series of mixtapes.

When I first heard this, I was not impressed but on a second, much closer listen, I appreciate the vulnerability of Logic on this mixtape. I give it 4.5 out of 5.

Email Cole at:

ctamarri@live.esu.edu