Logic

YSIV

YSIV is a cloying album, which features Logic pointing at an amorphous idea of the past, but avoids adding anything artistically transformative to his worship of it.

This is Logic at his best: making music that makes him happy. His comfort zone is infectious. If YSIV doesn't sell you on Logic, nothing will.

Blemishes aside, YSIV is a wondrous body of work that succeeds largely because it puts Logic’s obsession with thematic content on the back burner.

In a way, with all its emphasis on over-achievement and a continuous supply of re-recounted autobiographical content, YSIV can be as mind-numbing as the mumble rap Logic rails against, but the proficiency and fervor are indisputable.

Though there’s a few overlong, bloated gestures here, the core of YSIV is a superstar making no-nonsense rap with an inspirational message.

Over some dusty boom-bap, the undoubtedly talented Logic spends just way too much time trying to forcibly cement his place in hip-hop history.

Logic is, as always, well-intentioned and likable on YSIV, but his music remains middle-of-the-road.