Start a Party: Swae Lee goes really hard on this one, and his verse is pretty great (no hate on Jxmmi at all, though, his verse is good, too). I wasn't crazy about the hook at first, but after some repeat listens, it's definitely grown on me a bit. It’s good as the “party-starter” for this album, and I think it’s gotten better with more listens.
Real Chill (ft. Kodak Black): I’m not crazy about the hook on this one, and while Swae and Jxmmi provide the goods on their verses, the song as a whole just isn’t as memorable, and Kodak Black didn’t really convince me to become a fan with his feature on this one. Definitely can’t say I was crazy about this one.
By Chance: I like Swae’s deeper, very different vocals in this song. The hook is pretty hypnotic, and Jxmmi’s verse is pretty strong, and while I wasn't crazy about Swae's verse at first, it's definitely grown on me with some repeat listens. Wasn't one of my favorite tracks at first, but it's definitely gotten better with more listens, and I think it's really fun and infectious.
Look Alive: The instrumental on this one is really interesting, and Swae’s hook is really strong! Both Jxmmi and Swae also bring the goods on their verses, providing plenty of fun on this very enjoyable track!
Black Beatles (ft. Gucci Mane): We all know this song from the “Mannequin Challenge,” but I’ve gotta say, even without said challenge, the song is actually pretty great. The instrumental is really enjoyable, the hook is undeniably catchy, Swae and Jxmmi have some really great performances here, and hell, even Gucci Mane doesn’t do half bad, and it takes a lot for me to say that about him. I’ve already looped this one a lot, and even after a ton of listens, it’s still a fantastically enjoyable song.
Shake It Fast (ft. Juicy J): Already, I’m really enjoying the super fast-paced hook, and both boys bring the catchy, exciting, fun on their verses. Juicy J is also featured on this one, and he really helps add to the fun. Another really good song!
Set the Roof (ft. Lil Jon): Leave it to the party man himself Lil Jon to create a really catchy hook. But even beyond Lil Jon’s strong hook, Swae and Jxmmi go extremely hard on their verses and help create a real banger, complimented nicely by a really strong instrumental. Really great song that’s perfect for parties!
Came A Long Way: Instrumentally, I love the way this one starts, but unfortunately, I think the hook is overly long and boring, and neither Swae nor Jxmmi’s verses are particularly memorable. Not a bad song, but it definitely isn’t one of the album’s strongest.
Now That I Know: The instrumentals are on point as always, and I really love Swae’s hook on this one. The kind of slower pace and the deeper lyrics about relationship issues are interesting. Both boys also bring their A-game to their verses, and all in all, I think this is one of the album’s strongest songs.
Take It or Leave It: I wasn’t crazy about the way this one started instrumentally, but Swae and Jxmmi’s verses are rock-solid and really fun. I’m not particularly struck by the hook, and I probably won’t care for it much after this review, but this song isn’t too bad overall.
Do Yoga: I’ll be completely honest, the hook really bored me on this one. Swae’s verse is not bad, and Jxmmi’s verse is quite good, but they aren’t enough to save this song from being pretty unexciting overall.
Over Here (ft. BoBo Swae): The hook on this one made me want to fall asleep. And unlike some of the other songs on this album, neither Jxmmi nor Swae’s verses are good enough to make the song worthwhile (Swae’s verse is a bit better than Jxmmi’s on this one in particular). Ditto for the random verse from BoBo Swae, who is apparently a close friend of Rae Sremmurd. This one definitely didn’t grab me.
Swang: I was actually shocked that this song was exclusive to the “deluxe” edition of the album. That said, it’s got a really catchy hook, a really cool instrumental sound, and both Swae and Jxmmi put together some fine performances here (Swae’s high notes, even if they are autotuned, sound pretty good). One of my personal favorites on the album. Even after way too many listens, it’s still a really enjoyable song.
Just Like Us: I really like the mellow sound on this one, and I like the sound of Swae and Jxmmi’s vocals. Their verses are really strong, the hook is pretty great, and the instrumental sounds awesome! It’s a very different sound from the typical Rae Sremmurd turn-up song, but at the same time, it still feels like it fits nicely among their other songs, and it’s a great way to end things off.
Overall, "SremmLife 2" is an album that, despite limping to the finish (not counting the bonus tracks), was still better than the first. Sure, there's some inconsistency here, but I feel like the boys definitely knew what they wanted to do (make an album that you party hard to), and they did it well. At the end of the day, though, I think this is an album that has definitely grown on me with repeat listens: it’s well-produced, Swae and Jxmmi showcased some maturity in regards to their sound, and they successfully delivered on their intentions: the boys wanted to make an explosive, lit party album, and they succeeded. It's definitely better than the first (if still a tiny bit inconsistent), and if you’re looking for an album to turn up to, this one is a really good choice.
Favorite tracks: Start a Party*, By Chance*, Look Alive, Black Beatles, Shake It Fast, Set the Roof, Now That I Know, Swang, Just Like Us
Least favorite tracks: Came A Long Way, Do Yoga, Over Here
Rating: Good
(*An asterisk next to a “favorite track” indicates that the track wasn’t initially one of my “favorite tracks” when I first wrote the review. If a track has an asterisk next to it, it means the song wasn’t initially a favorite of mine, but it grew on me, and the text for the song may have been edited to more properly reflect that.)
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