By Nicolas Mezzaucella
One of the biggest rap stars of the last ten years, Lil Uzi Vert, has returned with a new album, Eternal Atake 2. The sequel to their highly rated 2020 project Eternal Atake, Eternal Atake 2 is a mix of sounds and styles from previous Lil Uzi Vert albums, making for one of the more confusing and messy albums of 2024.
The announcement for Eternal Atake 2 came a week before the album was released. A promotional video dived back into the inspiration of outer space and the imagery based on the Heaven’s Gate cult that was evident throughout its predecessor. The promotion also featured Uzi’s robot dog, Goddard, who the track “Goddard Song” is named after and who Uzi claims was the “processor” behind the album.
When asked by Complex why they wanted to return to the Eternal Atake universe, Uzi said, “The first Eternal Atake was perfect, and I didn’t have the team I have today and everything got leaked and everyone had it already. And it was just the songs that the artistry I was trying to be on, I was trying to push out a narrative that I really didn’t care, and that wasn’t the case. … I know myself, especially back then, so by the time the world opened back up, of course the [songs] that I like a lot, I’m going to put them in my show. But I really didn’t get to perform the whole album. So I always knew in my head I was going to come back and do Eternal Atake 2.”
Coming back to this universe is a big deal for Uzi and their fans. The first Eternal Atake went No. 1 in its first week in 2020 and ranked No.4 on Billboard’s “20 Best Rap Albums of 2020” list. The album was certified as platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America four months after its release.
Although the album is said to be a sequel to the first Eternal Atake, the callbacks to the first album come mostly through the marketing, not the music itself.
“Say what you want about the first Eternal Atake, but there was a clear thematic throughline; the album was organized in a neat way, dividing the three Uzi personas: There was Baby Pluto — their spitting side; Renji, which featured a more melodic approach; and Lil Uzi Vert, a blend of both. However, during my initial listens of EA 2, it’s tough to see if Uzi adapted that concept or improved upon it in any meaningful way,” said Dimas Sanfiorenzo and Will Schube for Complex.
Eternal Atake 2 opens with the tracks “We Good” and “Light Year (Practice),” both of which feature production and vocal performances reminiscent of the album’s predecessor. The first shift in tone and style comes on “The Rush,” which features the boy band Big Time Rush, although it’s only for a few seconds at the beginning of the track.
Eternal Atake 2’s first sense of cohesion comes on tracks “Mr Chow,” “Lyft Em Up,” and “Chips and Dip.” The three tracks are all very bass-heavy and deliver punching lyrics that will light up stadiums when they go on tour next. Right after the album seems to be coming together, the tone shifts again with tracks such as “Chill Bae,” “PerkySex,” and “Conceited.” Billboard described “Chill Bae” as “apologetic, confessional and refreshingly human,” featuring a more pop-centric sound with themes of love and relationship troubles.
Due to the lack of cohesion, fans on social media had many mixed opinions on Eternal Atake 2. Some felt the album had its moments and was a nice change of style from the rock and metal heavy tracks that made up Pink Tape, while other fans claimed it is their worst album to date, even going as far as to urge Lil Uzi Vert to stop working with the producers who made the beats for most of the album’s tracks such as Lil 88 and Cashmere Cat.
As for the future, Lil Uzi Vert announced that their next album, Luv is Rage 3, will be coming out soon and that it will more than likely not be their final album after claiming they would be done after the end of the Luv is Rage in Oct. 2023.