Eternal Atake 2: Lil Uzi Vert Takes a Step Backwards

Philly-born rapper Lil Uzi Vert released their fourth studio album, Eternal Atake 2, on November 1. Known for their multi-genre sound and experimental beats, Uzi has been a prominent name in rap since the releases of Luv is Rage and its sequel, Luv is Rage 2, shook the music world in 2015 and 2017, respectively. Their second studio album, Eternal Atake, came out in 2020, and they’ve been hinting at the sequel in the years since. In Eternal Atake 2, Uzi attempts to personalize and revamp the album’s predecessor. Instead, they deliver an unimaginative and disjointed look into the past, unable to match the powerful impact of their previous successes.

The album begins with tracks emblematic of Uzi’s signature style, delivering pop-rap vocals over heavy basses reminiscent of their earliest mixtapes. They delve into themes of others doubting them and their future successes, with lines like “They said I was lost / They said I was a dead guy” in “We Good” and “I don’t think that they ready” in “Light Year (Practice).” While the lyricism of the first tracks of Eternal Atake 2 looks into the future, the production mirrors Uzi’s past works, particularly Pink Tape (2023). However, while Pink Tape was celebrated for unabashedly pushing the boundaries of mainstream rap at the time, its similarities to Eternal Atake 2 represent a step backward, given Uzi’s past groundbreaking releases.

As the album progresses, Uzi steps outside of the bounds of their previous styles, venturing into new, but somehow less successful, territory. Their flow in “Not An Option,” though captivating and fast-paced with cohesive drum beats and vocals, is remarkably similar to rappers Ken Carson and Destroy Lonely. Uzi steps even lower as they lifelessly vamp “I sip Wock’, Wock’, Wock’, Wock’, Wock’, Wock’, Wock’, Wock’” throughout “Paars in the Mars” and “Shawty, she a bop…” in “Mr Chow,” lyrics that are unique but lack substance.

Throughout the rest of Eternal Atake 2, Uzi reveals a more introspective and current reflection of themself. The melancholy piano sample that begins and loops during “Lyft Em Up” creates a sense of newfound vulnerability between Uzi and the listener. Both “Lyft Em Up” and “Chips and Dip” stand out as tracks with alluring flow and lyrical depth, qualities that are sparse in Eternal Atake 2. As the album progresses, however, Uzi’s tracks demonstrate increasingly strong pop influences while keeping the previous ethereal atmosphere, featuring heavy autotune and background vocals. On tracks such as “Chill Bae” and “Conceited,” they deliver raw lines like “Man, our love, it feels like a chore right now, yeah / Please don’t do the most right now / If I hit you up, please, don’t go on ghost right now” and “This is my life and I cannot live it without you.” The final track, “Space High,” represents a fusion between the first and second half of Eternal Atake 2, featuring macho lines such as “I’m Lil Uzi / Yeah, huh, [EXPLETIVE] with me, your life is ruined” over cloud rap beats. 

Uzi’s choice to include radically different themes, production styles, and vocals throughout Eternal Atake 2 could reflect their cross-genre experimentation, but the lack of cohesion instead creates a sense of disjointedness, with clashing ideas and a lack of any overarching themes. It serves as a stark juxtaposition to the innovative nature of Uzi’s previous three studio albums and demonstrates a step back from their willingness to step outside of the boundaries in Eternal Atake.