Album Review // Lil Uzi Vert // Pink Tape

Atlantic Records

2/5 stars

More than a name, Lil Uzi Vert has created an image for themself. The gender-nonconforming rapper appears on the cover of their latest project, Pink Tape, against a pink American flag with a matching jacket and spiked hair. They once had a diamond implanted in their forehead until doctors said they could die if it was not removed properly. They've crafted a career out of blending genres, teaching a generation of fans to create without boundaries; they've also been charged with felony assault against their ex-girlfriend. With all of this in mind, Pink Tape feels like an extension of Vert's public persona: it truly is a collection of the good ("Flooded the Face"), the bad ("CS"), and the ugly ("Endless Fashion").

Vert's penchant for creating without concern is charming in theory, but unfortunately, the album's "rap-rock" elements fall apart the moment you hear their laughable growl, appearing on several tracks including a glorified karaoke cover of System of a Down's "Chop Suey." Vert is at their best when they ride cosmic beats similar to those found on 2020's Eternal Atake, and in that sense, Pink Tape is lacking the intrigue to sway the minds of prior fans or skeptics. When the best they can offer is more of the same, it's hard to see Pink Tape as anything but an admirable failure.