Ty Dolla $ign’s debut album has an unlikely purpose. It’s not only a longer format for him to showcase his style (Drakean self-doubt meets Rick Ross’s braggadocio) or his connections (Kendrick Lamar, R Kelly, Babyface and Kanye West all appear) but he claims it’s primarily a way to raise funds to help his incarcerated brother, Big TC. (“I’m gonna give the people a super-quality album and use that money and get him an incredible lawyer,” he said.) Along with songs such as the less than subtle Horses in the Stable, which cover the same ground as his breakout hit Paranoid (ie his hectic love life), there’s a noticeable attempt to take the next step in his career with some grand designs. Opener LA ft Kendrick Lamar is an ode to the city that he compares to Jay Z and Alicia Keys’ Empire State of Mind, but in truth sounds more like TQ’s late-90s hit Westside. Guard Down ft Diddy and Kanye West is a lament about not appreciating those around you – including Big TC. Those cameo-packed tracks fail to live up to the billing, often feeling too long and lacking the punch of Dolla $ign’s previous output. That being said, Big TC probably won’t need a public defender.
