Disclaimer: The following article discusses music with explicit lyrics. 

Lil Uzi Vert is back in the game, for now. 

The release of his intergalactic sophomore album “Eternal Atake,” reignited Uzi’s buzz in the rap scene yet fails to live up to the hype.

Over the past two years, the Philadelphia rapper teased his fan base with a deluge of music snippets foreshadowing the release of this widely anticipated project.

Murmurs of “Eternal Atake” began to grow louder when the rapper took to social media to flaunt the album cover art and tracklist, also accompanied by a short film to gain traction for his upcoming album.

 

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A post shared by 16 ( NO STYLIST) (@liluzivert) on Mar 5, 2020 at 5:56pm PST

“Eternal Atake” trails Uzi’s commonality of rapping about his newfound fortune, substance abuse, and heartbreak. 

Selling 350,000 copies during its first week on the charts, “Eternal Atake” is now certified RIAA Gold, and has secured the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in a row. While many fans consider this milestone to be a huge win for the artist, to me it feels undeserved. 

While the incredibly anticipated album was predicted to be a sure-fire fan favorite, I found myself skipping many of the songs, displeased with Uzi rapping over chaotic, unsophisticated beats. 

Track number 16, “P2” (part two of Uzi’s smash hit “Xo Tour Llif3”) illustrates Uzi’s highly publicized breakup from his longtime girlfriend, Britanny Byrd. While “P2” serves as a clever nod to the success of “Xo Tour Lyf3,” it is unnecessary and anticlimactic. 

“P2” and “I’m sorry” are the only tracks that offer an authentic look into Uzi’s genuine emotions, while the rest of the album simply captures Uzi’s superficial excessive lifestyle. This facade grows repetitive and rather dull after the second or third track. 

“Eternal Atake” is not a strong enough album to stand on its own without its deluxe edition, titled “LUV vs. The World 2,” released a week after the album’s initial drop. 

 

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Luv Vs The World 2 out now deluxe .

A post shared by 16 ( NO STYLIST) (@liluzivert) on Mar 13, 2020 at 7:03am PDT

The deluxe edition unsuccessfully tries to clean up the mess with high-profile features from hip-hop veterans such as Chief Keef and Future. 

While it was the right move for Uzi to disband from his former label “Generation Now,” “Eternal Atake” does not find Uzi reaping the fruits of his long-awaited debut. 

Uzi’s sloppy slew of singles and guest features for other artists serve as a series of misses for the once dominating rap prodigy. 

While the thematic visual aids that accompanied “Eternal Atake” were artistically pleasing, I found myself more excited with the hype around the long-delayed album than with the music itself. 

My rating: 6.7/10