Chicago native Yung Bans recently dropped his debut album, Misunderstood, thru Foundation Media. This 19 track album is able to explore a wide range of sounds while showing off Bans’ versatility as an artist. Throughout five volumes of mixtapes, he’s been working on his craft and this album provides glimpses of the best of Bans. Although this isn’t the most cohesive debut album, there are plenty of notable tracks that should keep his fans satisfied until his next offering.
Here are our top five tracks of Misunderstood.
“How Da Game Go”
“How Da Game Go” showcases Bans’ fantastic storytelling along with some dope ominous production from Nick Mira. Bans’ flows well on this beat and it’s a great track fit with some of his singing and hard-hitting one-liners. He talks about some rough cuts and ties it well together with a very unique chorus.
“100 Shells”
“100 Shells” gives off a unique vibe and is one of the highlights on this project. Smoko Ono was all over this tracklist and both Charlie Handsome and Smoko shined on this track. Catchy rhymes throughout the chorus and very solid verses from both YNW and Bans’ were apparent on this track and although the production was lighthearted and angelic, the intense lyrics contrasted well.
“Broken Pieces”
The closing song is a short, ballad-like track that has Bans’ opening up about shortcomings and generally heavy topics. Love the sample Bugz uses, that angelic singing is super dope. Another deep and dark chorus from Bans ties well his message-filled verse makes this a memorable closer.
“Red Dead” feat. Slim Santana
Although Future would’ve killed a verse on this one, it’s still a banger, and Future’s still able to add a lot to the pre-chorus as well as the chorus. Slim Santana also does well to deliver a clean verse with a relaxed flow, it makes for a complete song. This was one of my favorites on the project and it’s part of why this album has pure replay value.
“Too Many Times”
Bans’ enlists producers Smoko Ono and Maaly Raw to create a 5-minute rollercoaster of a song with “Too Many Times”. He really taps into his signature sound on the first half with a lengthy chorus that opens up the track and flows into a solid verse. Bans is a unique talent and he shows off his production versatility on this one, hopping through both beats with his genuine, hard-hitting, and often dark rhymes. I dig the second half’s production and although Bans chorus is solid, his verse doesn’t sound amazing.
