Lil Uzi Vert, who subtly changed their pronouns to “they/them” on Instagram, returns to their roots. The “Red & White EP” is comprised of unreleased tracks dating back to 2016, once considered Uzi’s prime.
Lil Uzi Vert is a Space Cadet
Uzi first dropped “SPACE CADET” in mid-July on Soundcloud, and since then garnered more than 3.3 million listens. The track, which is the first on the “Red & White” EP, has fans in a frenzy. Lil Uzi Vert immediately hops on an infectiously fun beat, accompanied by an equally enjoyable cadence. The Philadelphia native shot to stardom in 2015, propelled by their unique flow and unabashed lyrics. Fans are calling the “Red and White” EP a return to Lil Uzi Vert’s roots, specifically their Luv is Rage and Lil Uzi Vert vs. The World projects. Some fans, however, point out that the track may actually be unreleased from 2016. “SPACE CADET” is the perfect precursor to such a spontaneous EP, and represents Uzi finally getting back to their original style.
A “Red & White” Fan Favorite
“FLEX UP” is another fan favorite from the 9-track effort. Lil Uzi Vert raps melodically over a Luv is Rage era beat, produced by longtime collaborator Maaly Raw. Of all the songs on “Red & White” EP, “FLEX UP” is perhaps the most nostalgic. This track sees Uzi rapping an incredibly catchy chorus along with expeditious verses, signature to “old Uzi.” Keen fans point out the track is most likely from 2016, as Lil Uzi’s voice sounds a bit younger.
Blending Styles on “Final Fantasy”
The last song of the EP, “FINAL FANTASY” is produced by Brandon Finessin and 1Esko. Relating to its title, the beat of this track is particularly ethereal. Each listen reveals a new instrumental to pay attention to, on top of Uzi’s impeccable cadence. The 26-year-old rap giant combines both the first and last songs of the EP, perhaps hinting at the sound of their next album. They rap, “Final Fantasy, at the Mercy / Foreign girl, yeah, she say, “Merci” / I‘m a space cadet, Final Fantasy.” Lil Uzi Vert aptly combines both songs into one lyric, perhaps to represent the merging of different sounds in their forthcoming album, THE P!NK TAPE.
More from Lil Uzi
Lil Uzi Vert certainly surprised and elated fans by dropping “Red & White” on such short notice. In an Instagram post promoting “FLEX UP,” they note how meaningful these drops are. Uzi writes, “I’m so happy I feel free dropping all this music,” as well as teases their upcoming album in a previous post.
