Jonatam Leandoer Hastad, better known by his stage name Yung Lean, is at the forefront of a scene which has received a huge amount of press this week. “Cloud rappers: may be under the spotlight for the wrong reasons due to the recent tragedy surrounding the death of 21 year old Lil Peep, but there are still many unconventional emo-rappers to carry his torch…
Alongside acts such as $uicideboy$, Yung Lean and his group Sad Boys have flown the flag for a new breed of internet rappers. Many are just out of their teens, as well as many being from cities not often associated with rap and hip-hop. They take inspiration from emo, punk, trap, R&B and more to create a bleak, depressive, and often prescription drug-fuelled vibe, unlike anything from the 90’s or 2000’s. Hastad’s rap moniker features the term “lean”, which is just one of the many street names for a popular drink made from codeine cough suppressant and Sprite (also known as “dirty Sprite”, “Texas tea” or “purple drank”). Even though this concoction is synonymous with Hastad’s chosen genre, his moniker is actually taken from his middle name Leandoer.
At just 16 years old, Yung Lean began releasing music, and since his breakthrough viral hit “Ginseng Strip 2002”, his steady output gained him and Sad Boys a rabid fan base. Not only has their musical style been widely imitated, but their mash up of fashion has also inspired a worldwide clothing trend. Many elements contributed to the intrigue surrounding these young Swedes’ rise to fame, especially during their first few years on the scene, but after first listening out of sheer curiosity, many stayed to hear what else they had to offer.
Fans of Chief Keef are likely to get along well with this flavour of rap, even though it has some major differences. Those who appreciate the modern take on hip hop, pioneered by the likes of Post Malone and Lil Uzi Vert, will be even more likely to understand where Yung Lean is coming from. Each act breaks down the stereotypes of what a rapper is, but they all generally share big hooks and themes of excess. Mostly inspired by southern hip hop and trap, they swap simplistic, urban instrumentals for a much more thoughtful, atmospheric palette. ‘Cloud Rap’, ‘Emo Rap’, or whatever journalists are calling it next, is a mixture of ambient sounds, similar to Aphex Twin, blended with the brain dead rapping style of Gucci Mane, who Hastad has highlighted as one of his favourites in interviews.
The production on Stranger definitely saves some of the throwaway lyrics Yung Lean has become known for. This half-baked rap delivery, full of cliché is all part of his charm, but here we begin to hear more hazy imagery than ever before. Half sung-half rapped lines like ‘Paint a picture like Van Gogh’ is followed by ‘B*tch I’m swerving’ on the striking “Red Bottom Sky”. Hastad appears more introspective here, ‘I’ve lived a thousand lives / but I am still searching‘ and in general the album is more coherent, musically and lyrically. There is still a certain naivety to the production style, but the synth work and child’s choir additions on “Red Bottom Sky” show his maturity.
On the album’s opener, we hear of his distaste for the limelight, ‘F*** being famous / I don’t need all that s***‘. This seems to be a sentiment that is shared with many of his peers, however larger-than-life they appear to be. The use of Xanax, and other drugs are often glamourised by today’s rappers, but perhaps they are medicating themselves to deal with the pressures of fame.
Much of Stranger is drenched in a purple haze, but on “Hunting My Own Skin”, the skippy beat brings out a different energy from Hastad. Elsewhere on “Iceman” and “Fallen Demon”, everything sounds more blurred and aimless at times. The choice of hypnotic sonics and bleary-eyed rap make for a rather tiring listen overall and at 14 tracks, he appears to have concentrated on quantity over quality here. However, there is a strange beauty in his detached style, like on the surprisingly stunning “Agony”, which features little more than Hastad’s distant vocals, and a piano accompaniment.
Stranger is as obscurely melancholy as you would expect, but the glimmering light somehow keeps you listening. It may leave some scratching their heads, trying to decide if they are listening to an idiot or a genius. The album’s production is mostly very well executed, creating a three dimensional sound scape throughout. Yung Lean will no doubt continue to inspire the next generation, who will be looking up to acts like Clams Casino instead of J Dilla. This album is far from chart-friendly, thanks to his inconsistent vocals, but when they are on point there is a lot to like. Stranger is unlikely to produce a single as popular as Future’s number 1 release “Mask Off”, but it will surely make more of Hastad’s doubters take note.
Intrigued? Why not come and listen in one of our demo rooms at your local Richer Sounds today?
