The Alchemist’s Production Shines in Larry June & 2 Chainz Album

Reviewed By: Tory “Pico_Da_Gawd” Jackson

When Larry June and 2 Chainz announced that they would be coming out with a joint album, I was surprised, honestly. I know they have good chemistry based on the few songs they have together already, but those were over bass-heavy trap beats. The Alchemist is top tier when it comes to producing work that is catered to the artists he’s collaborating with, and this project is no exception. Life is beautiful, and so is this album.

The production, for starters, is uncompromising. The Alchemist does a good job providing the canvas for Larry and Chainz without losing that Alchemist sound that we all know and love. It’s the perfect mix of gritty and upbeat sounds that provide just enough bounce without overdoing it. Track 2, “Colossal,” is probably the best example of this, but it can be heard throughout the entire album. Add the fact that each track has a smooth transition from one to another, and you get a nice cohesive sound for the whole 37-minute runtime. You can tell that all three artists were in the studio giving input together. Alchemist truly cares about how the end product sounds, so you’ll rarely get that sent-email/detached sound that plagues collab projects.

Larry and Chainz make the cohesion of the production even better when the raps are added to the mix. The two complement each other well and display this by sharing the hooks on a few songs and piggybacking off each other’s verses. The subject matter is what you can expect from both. The bars aren’t anything crazy that takes days to dissect, but there’s enough wordplay and witty lines to keep you interested. This is premium lifestyle rap, so that’s exactly what you’re getting, hence the title “Life Is Beautiful.” This album satisfied a lot of people’s hunger when it comes to raps over quality beats from the two MCs. This should hold me over until 2 Chainz drops with Statik Selektah, and this also serves as a continuation for those who wanted more of what Larry and Alchemist were able to create with The Great Escape. A good listen overall.

Album Rating: 👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑**(8/10)**

Standout Tracks: Colossal & Any Day