Yung Lean - Stranger

Swedish rapper Yung Lean’s (aka Jonatan Leandoer Håstad) latest record Stranger has moments of brilliance but unfortunately they are far too often buried beneath banal filler.

When Håstad arrived on the hip-hop scene four years ago he made an instant impact, essentially launching a new sub-genre of “sad boy” rap. With Stranger he has attempted to innovate and refine this style, however more often than not the tracks lack a punch to give them any long lasting meaning.

A few tracks do however standout amongst the bunch. Openers Muddy Sea and Red Bottom Sky kick the album off nicely, particularly as introductions to the genre. The other tracks which could stand the test of time are Salute/Pacman, Agony and Yellowman.

★★1/2

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Also published on Alt Media