An Excellent Sequel that doesn’t outshine the original

Like I said in my recent Raised By Wolves review, I was already looking forward to the sequel, and here we are. Released just a week or so ago, this one feels even fresher than the original, and I was excited to see what it would bring more than three years later. With Cardo still handling production and YoDogg now firmly on my radar, I had at least semi-high hopes for this project!

It did have a bit of a slower start for me compared to the original Raised By Wolves. “Slimey Wolf” and “Splatter” are solid, but it wasn’t until “MADNESS” that I really got locked in. The first album hooked me right away, whereas RBW2 took a few tracks to hit its stride. “The Clan” and “Blade” are both cool, but it’s not until “Now Ya Gang” that Raised By Wolves 2 fully shifts into gear for me.

The beats are really strong once again, though I do think a couple don’t quite hit the mark—mainly those first few tracks I mentioned. There’s also a slightly heavier lean into the laid-back West Coast sound this time, and the balance doesn’t feel as even throughout as it did on the original. For every beat that doesn’t fully land, it feels like one side of the soundscape that YoDogg and Cardo thrive in gets a little more unbalanced.

Not to come off too negative, because I genuinely like this project a lot—I just want to be honest about my criticisms and how they affect the score. YoDogg is an artist I enjoy, and they stuck to the winning formula here, so it never goes too far off the rails. If we ever get a Raised By Wolves 3 in a few years, I’d just love a bit more energy in some of the beats; I think that would bring the absolute best out of YoDogg. In the meantime, I’m going to keep enjoying this one and continue revisiting the original Raised By Wolves!

Standout Tracks: Madness, Bacc 2 Life, Now Ya Gang, When I See You

Album Rating: 👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑(8/10)