SPOTLIGHT #1: "Don't Feed The Pigeons" by YL
An album review by Brandon Kao
In March, we dropped an interview with YL where we talked about his upcoming album “Don’t Feed The Pigeons,” that just dropped this past June. In it, he talked about how this album is the culmination of all of his sounds he’s developed over the years put together into one cohesive album. He also gave us an unreleased track that we now know is the ninth track, “Play Dead (prod. Dylvinci & Grimm Doza).”
On “Don’t Feed The Pigeons,” YL showcases why he can do it all as an artist. From the album art alone you can tell it is a true New York album. He opens the album strong with “Open Arms” produced by Jonboyice, whom he previously collaborated heavily with for his 2021 album “Soda Club,” where he experiments with New York drill. The second single, “Back On The Wall (prod. Jonboyice),” also sees YL spitting effortlessly over more trunk shaking 808s and floating high hats characteristic of the drill scene. The album then flows into his bread and butter of soul sample loops over throwback 90s era boom bap drums, or even no drums, assisted by frequent production collaborators, Roper Williams and Zoomo, the latter of whom is part of their rap collective RRR. RRR also includes YL’s rapping partner, Starker, who shows up later in the album to slaughter an arpeggio guitar loop on “Good Numbers (prod. Zoomo)” with an absolute bar fest. Starker comes in with one of the realest first bars ever written: “It only gets worse when you have to put a resume together and get to work.” Fire track. The only other rapper featured on the album, ANKHLEJOHN, AKA Big Lordy himself, shows up to bless the album with a fire verse on “Nothing Changed (prod. Roper Williams).” YL also links back up with LA based producer and artist, Eyedress, for “Versaces, Not Cartis,” which sounds like a beat straight off a Westside Gunn album recorded in Paris. On the next track, “Tearz (prod. Jonboyice),” YL flips convention on its head and raps in the pocket with a triplet drill flow over a drumless soul sample loop that will have you waiting for the 808s to come in the entire time.
Even more impressive is the final track, “Dry (prod. Roper Williams).” The beat is one sustained note held for 2 straight bars, the kind of beat with enough empty space to scare off most seasoned rappers. Instead, YL confidently delivers one of his best verses ever, closing out the album beautifully. In the last line of the album he raps, “I want the sun to be the first thing I see every morning, after I’m yawning.” This is exactly how I feel when I listen to YL’s music. The warmth of his sound and silky smooth flows give off an energy like feeling the sun hit your face in the morning. It’s the kind of music that gets you out of bed on a Sucka Free Sunday to put on your flyest leather jacket and baggiest jeans, lace your kicks, and step outside. He’s not rapping about the craziest block party or the grimiest hood. It’s just his everyday life in New York and he makes it sound fly.
YL’s catalog is a testament to his consistency as an artist. “I’m underground getting industry checks,” he raps on “Yoke (prod. Roper Williams).” For years now, he has been steadily dropping underground tapes with a handful of up and coming producers from the same scene, experimenting with styles and refining his sound. This is the first time he has brought all his past producer collaborations together for one album and the result is possibly his most cohesive project yet. There is no fluff to this shit whatsoever, no hooks, just potent raps about real life. If I were chilling with the homie and they’ve never heard of YL before, this is the album I would throw on shuffle and just kick back to. I’ll never look at pigeons the same. I’mma have this joint on rotation all summer.
YL and the rest of the RRR crew are currently on tour in Japan for the month of July. Pop out to Japan to catch a show and for those that haven’t, do yourself a favor and buy the album’s bonus tracks. It’s clear he left the best songs for his true fans. Also, be sure to check out the music videos YL did for “More Life (prod. Zoomo)” and “Yoke (prod. Roper Williams)” and subscribe for more fire album reviews.
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