REVISIT: Lil Uzi Vert - Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World

Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World is the second full-length project from Lil Uzi Vert.  2016 was an incredible year for him.  It wasn't nearly as great as 2017 but 2016 was still huge for his career.  In 2016, he released two mixtapes that helped him gain a lot of popularity in the mainstream: The one I'm currently writing about and The Perfect LUV Tape.  He appeared on the 2016 XXL Freshman List along with Lil Yachty, Kodak Black, and 21 Savage among others.  Before his late 2016 release, I never considered myself a fan of Lil Uzi.  I thought his first two projects had a few good songs but I never considered them to be great.  In fact, I actually think this one was his weakest project.  I decided to give this another shot since his next album is supposed to be a sequel to LUV vs. the World.  After listening to vs. the World again, I can say that this project was better than I initially thought.

Positives

What I liked best about Uzi's earlier mixtapes was that they were very short and concise.  This tape, in particular, was 9 tracks and just over a half hour long.  One of Uzi's biggest strong suits is his ear for beats.  The bulk of this project was produced by Maaly Raw and DJ Don Cannon, who both knew Uzi's sound best and provided some incredible beats.  What I like the most about Lil Uzi Vert is his infectious melodies and delivery.  He has one of the nicest voices in hip-hop and knows how to ride a beat very well.  His hooks throughout this project, such as "Hi Roller," "Money Longer," "You Was Right," and "Team Rocket," are very catchy.

Negatives

Lil Uzi Vert isn't the most substantial artist on the market.  I think he is very talented and knows how to use melodies very well, but the lyrics aren't something that I talk about when I praise Uzi.  We mostly get the same subject matter about the money he makes, his capability of stealing your girlfriend, and his love for his now ex-girlfriend Brittany.  He can sometimes be a bit repetitive, even during his verses.  Also, this project came out back when he used to say "yeah!" after every line.  His yeahs and inability to vary his ad-libs were something that I didn't like about him and I'm glad that his newer music doesn't include "yeah!" nearly as much.

Singles

Money Longer - This was Uzi's first mainstream hit.  Maaly Raw and Don Cannon provide some nice production and Uzi delivers one of the best hooks in his entire discography.  This song is classic Uzi.

Best Tracks

1) Hi Roller - Maaly Raw's production on here is amazing.  The drums and synthesizers mesh very well together and are pleasing to the ears.  This song also has one of the best hooks on the entire project.  Sure, there's a lot of "yeah!" but it's actually very easy to overlook on here.

2) You Was Right - This was definitely my favorite song on the entire project, and probably one of Uzi's best songs ever.  Metro Boomin's production is very atmospheric and fits Uzi's sound so damn well.  The hook is insanely catchy and very fun to sing along to.  It's one of Uzi's best hooks.

3) Baby Are You Home - Right after "You Was Right," we get some more amazing Metro production.  Uzi rides the beat very well and does it effortlessly.  I especially love the way he says "Pico de Gallo" on the first verse.  The hook on this song isn't as catchy as the other highlights but it still sounds good.

4) Team Rocket - Towards the end of the project, we get some great production from Lyle Leduff and Don Cannon.  This song had one of the best hooks on the entire project and some of Uzi's best melodies.  There aren't many Pokemon references in this track, but Uzi's comparison of he and Brittany to Team Rocket based on their hair colors is very interesting.

Worst Track

Ps & Qs - This was the first Lil Uzi Vert song I've ever listened to.  I hated it and I still hate it to this day.  The beat sounds like the Chef Boyardee commercial with the rolling can.  It has the worst hook on the entire project and the third verse devolves into repetition.  This is probably the most annoying, worst song that Uzi has ever made.

Conclusion

Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World has some of Uzi's best songs and was the project that propelled him into stardom.  Even though there hasn't been a project from Uzi that I didn't like, I still consider this to be the least good.  After LUV vs. the World, he went on to release some of the best music he's ever made.  In conclusion, I like it, but I don't really love it.