Woptober II

In 2016, just months after his early release from prison, Atlanta trap godfather Gucci Mane issued his hit mixtape, Woptober, kicking off a prolific period in the rapper's career that sprouted from a newly healthy lifestyle and a fresh outlook on life. Almost three years later to the day, Gucci released a sequel, Woptober 2. His 15th official studio effort, the album is one of Gucci's best post-prison efforts, matching Everybody Looking and Mr. Davis in style, catchy production, and big trap fun. Unlike its predecessors Evil Genius and Delusions of Grandeur, Woptober 2 is energized, addictive, and packed with quotable lines that find Gucci hungry, defiant as ever, and revitalized by his younger, up-and-coming guests. Chart-toppers YoungBoy Never Broke Again and DaBaby deliver standout verses on "Richer Than Errybody," yet another boastful, popping gem in Gucci's catalog. Megan Thee Stallion hops in for highlight "Big Booty," which employs an obvious but perfect sample of 2 Live Crew's "Hoochie Mama." Peewee Longway, Kevin Gates, Lil Baby, and Kodak Black inject their personalities into their respective tracks, joining two-thirds of Migos (Quavo and Takeoff) in a manner suggesting that these recording sessions were not only imaginative, creative bursts but also huge parties. While his guests certainly add life to Woptober 2, Gucci asserts dominance throughout, balancing his typical sex, drug, and violence talk with his now-familiar post-prison boasts about being rich, healthy, and handsome (even his dentist gets a shout-out at one point). Reminding listeners that he's still from the streets (and snitches better beware), he puffs his chest and flashes his bona fides on "Came from Scratch" and the booming "Move Me," the latter of which interpolates the Showboys' classic Dragnet-theme-sampling "Drag Rap (Triggaman)." On the set's grittiest stretch, Gucci gets graphic and hardcore with "Bucking the System," "Opps and Adversaries," and "Highly Recommended." At a relatively tight 13 tracks, the album is a brisk listen with something for every kind of Gucci fan. Closing out a wild, tumultuous decade of life and hip-hop, Gucci Mane puts a cherry atop the ice-cream-cone-tattoo of his 2010s catalog with one of his very best efforts. ~ Neil Z. Yeung