Kyle reminisces on his youth with latest album

Rapper and singer Kyle, from Ventura, CA, recently dropped his fourth album, See You When I am Famous!!!!!!!!!!!! (2020). A mix of new and old styles, SYWIF is a collection of songs which both remind of us of Kyle’s beloved sound but also introduces new styles and techniques, such as his trek into the emo-rap scene on “Forget.” Despite such ventures, though, the album falls short on multiple fronts: it is only 31 minutes in length – which seems a bit odd, given the fact that he’s had 2 years to create this album and has put out much longer albums in that same amount of time in the past. Besides trying his hand at emo-rap, there isn’t much other change or growth seen, and, despite being a tribute to his dreams of being famous while young, there isn’t much substance on the album to support such a concept. Thus, the album feels more like an amalgamation of songs he thought would fit well with his audience rather than one which tells a much deeper story of drive, motivation, and dedication to his dreams. See You When I am Famous!!!!!!!!!!!! is a missed opportunity, but Kyle may have just had trouble following the uber-successful Light of Mine (2018) that skyrocketed him to fame just two years ago.

“Bouncin,” the first track off this album, focuses on how Kyle’s “checks are the only thing that isn’t bouncin’,” which nods at the fact that he grew up in a low-income family, where money was tight and his checks would regularly bounce or get declined. Overall, “Bouncin” is a cheeky, upbeat song that talks more about how much he’s partying and how successful he is now, rather than it being a somber ballad about his past dreams. This was a smart move on his part, as it really kicks off the album into the happy, grateful tone he was going for. The second track, “Money Now,” continues off of this reminiscent-but-cheerful tone by juxtaposing his struggles growing up poor with the fact that he has “money now.” The chorus itself, which features Tyga and Johnny Yukon shows this exact comparison:

I was broke down, trappin’ out my mama house

Runnin’ laps outside, no bank account

Ooh we had some demons, had to get ‘em out

Look at me, look at me, gettin’ money now

Kyle’s choice to include heavy topics, such as poverty and his struggles growing up, and casting them in a positive tone through the use of a quick, energetic tempo lets his album take on a celebratory atmosphere. The inclusion of featured artists also drives home this concept, all while doing his youth justice.

On a different note, the fifth track, “Forget” showcases Kyle’s dive into the emo rap and alternative scene. The song features artists such as iann dior, a newer rapper known for his deep, emotional lyrics and infusions of alternative rock elements into his raps; and The Drums, an indie rock band also known for emotional lyrics and atmospheric riffs. This duo, combined with Kyle’s R&B flair and Trippie Redd’s SoundCloud rapper vibe creates an incredible mix of utter creativity, and is the direct outcome of what happens when artists let their imaginations flow without any hindrances or pressure from society. You have no idea how many times I’ve played this song on repeat – it truly speaks to my angsty, Gen Z self and makes me want to pierce my septum at 12am (again). This song is the highlight of the album in my opinion, as it is not only an absolute banger and sure to get you in your feels while wanting to party at the same time, but it also showcases each of the artists’ unique styles and talents. “Forget” was a huge change for Kyle’s audience, but his risk to reach out of his comfort zone and expand his horizons through different genres has definitely paid off, and is perhaps the sole reason why I would purchase See You When I’m Famous!!!!!! (besides the fact that the senior photo album cover of smol Kyle is literally everything).

Besides “Forget,” the only other songs that truly stood out to me were “The Sun,” “Bye,”  and “See You When I’m Famous.” “The Sun” is a drastic change in his rapping style and has more of a contemporary, ballad-type of sound to it and focuses on how his relationship with his significant other has become cloudy and sad, and that they must “go back to where the sun is.” “Bye” has a similar theme to it; Kyle sings about leaving his hometown, friends, and family between syncopated verses, and how the road to his success was not paved with gold. Finally, the album closer, “See You When I’m Famous” returns to the party-type atmosphere seen through the beginning of the album. A stark contrast to “The Sun” and “Bye,” this track is upbeat, cheerful, and features rappers within his own genre. This song focuses on  the rockstar lifestyle he lives now, popping pills and wearing designer brands everyday. As the final track on the album, it does a great job of ending it on a happy note and keeping things lighthearted, but I’m not sure if it was as wise stylistically-speaking. If he wanted to tell more of a story through the album, it may have been a better choice to end on a more serious song to provide the contrast to the happy beginning of the album. 

Kyle’s fourth album had a few misses, but all in all, is still a solid release. With the theme of nostalgia and reminiscence, I feel like he may have had a missed opportunity to create something much more deep and meaningful to him, and in turn, something many more people could relate to personally. But at the same time, I can understand and respect the fact that he probably just wanted the album to be more lighthearted than serious. In any case, See You When I am Famous!!!!!!!!!!!! is a welcome change of pace for this rapper who seemed to have plateaued within the last year. I look forward to what he comes up with next and in which ways he plans to expand his career, both musically and otherwise (perhaps with a second film?).

Written by Amber Ellertson