Music Critic Bas Bevan reviews the debut album from B Young, praising its diverse influences and polished sound.
Differences, the debut album by singer/rapper B Young comes after four years of single releases headlined by summer staples ‘Jumanji’ and ‘079ME.’ In this time he has curated a signature sound combing hip-hop and R&B and drawing influence from afro-beat, Afro-Caribbean music and his own Turkish-Cypriot heritage. This is something which he puts down to his upbringing in multicultural East London where ‘race wasn’t a thing.’ The result is a tranquil and captivating style of music suitable for any summer playlist. On his debut effort B Young replicates and develops this sound and at points invokes some slight differences, making the album’s title a fitting one. This has led to some songs that could stand alongside his previous singles as they have captured the elements that create their charm. However, few of the 16 tracks eclipse three minutes with three failing to reach two minutes causing some to seem insignificant when compared with the longer, more stand out songs. Nevertheless, the album as a whole has an incredibly polished and modern sound and stands as an impressive first record.
‘Justin Bieber,’ whilst being quite different to something Justin himself would sing, is a suitable opening song for the album that introduces the listener to B Young’s skill and style. He demonstrates varying, flowing melodies over an afro-beat inspired instrumental centred around an entrancing hook referencing Ariana Grande, Wizkid and Justin Bieber. Lyrically, like most of the Hackney artist’s previous work and much of the album, ‘Justin Bieber’ focuses on B Young attempting to win over and show his appreciation for the woman in his life. In combination these aspects give the initial track a sense of familiarity for his fans without seeming stale and introduces first listeners to B Young at his best.
‘Come Alive’ is unquestionably the standout moment of the album
The album’s first single ‘Come Alive’ is unquestionably the standout moment of the album as it employs the elements that made earlier songs such as ‘Jumanji’ so special: melodies impossible to get out of his audience’s heads and a distinctly summer sound. The latter is created by the horn and guitar based instrumental driven by diverse and multi-instrumental percussion which transports the listener to a variety of tropical scenes, a feeling that warrants further appreciation in a time when foreign travel is increasingly difficult.
On multiple songs on Differences, B Young seems to draw influences from American hip-hop, something he previous exhibited on his 2020 single ‘Want2.’ This is evident instrumentally on the title track ‘Differences,’ and ‘Save That S**t’ especially through the trap-style rapid and elaborate hi-hat patters, as well as on the 808 dominated ‘Flex.’ On ‘Wet’ he also employs a vocal style and frequent ad libs that are reminiscent of prominent U.S. hip hop artists including Travis Scott and Migos. In the future this could result in B Young’s catalogue being extremely varied both instrumentally and vocally due to influence from many different areas within hip-hop and R&B.
Another of the album’s successful moments comes on ‘Lightwork.’ The track is similar to both ‘Justin Bieber’ and ‘Come Alive’ in that it is unmistakably a B Young song and is a great indication of his musical prowess. He displays impressive vocal ability and again smoothly navigates the space over the instrumental effortlessly. His flowing singing contrasts against the short, brooding piano chords similar to those used on 2019’s ‘Gucci Demon’ which help to drive the track along by giving structure to the fluid vocal.
The following few tracks seem to form most of the low point of the record but this is not necessarily to say that they are substandard, just that when looking at Differences as a whole they are outshone by the better songs on the album. ‘Fondue’ is in the mould of a more typical B Young track but it feels restricted both instrumentally and vocally leaving it behind others that are similar in style. It is difficult to avoid any recollection of ‘You Feel Me’ becoming dominated by the continuous refrain of the song’s title which seems unnecessary and becomes slightly irritating, a shame considering the song is one of the few on Differences that departs from B Young’s usual lyrical style. ‘Chill’ and ‘R&Drill’ are the best examples of the drawback of the record as they seem unmemorable when weighed against some of the album’s other offerings but it is not obvious as to why. This maybe speaks to just how high the quality of the standout tracks is, that anything less seems noticeably worse in comparison.
His ability to apply his talents to several different styles demonstrates his stature and potential as an artist
A song that successfully epitomises the album’s title is ‘Right Now’ which simply features B Young singing, rapping and a guitar. It is a welcome diversion from the rest of the record and shows a more intimate side to B Young’s artistry where he displays a vulnerability very different from his usual self-confidence and bravado. His ability to apply his talents to several different styles demonstrates his stature and potential as an artist and also how his music can and could appeal to a variety of audiences.
The final track ‘Living Easy?’ where B young reflects on his life and career and expresses his aims for the future is a fitting end to his debut album showing it to be a pivotal point, both as a destination and part of the journey. He sings on the hook ‘Look what you’ve done look how far you’ve come,’ ‘Came from the bottom now you number one’ but later raps ‘I’ll keep selling records ‘till they have to feel me’ and ‘grind hard ‘till my bank a different magnitude’ showing his satisfaction with his achievements but also his dedication and hunger to go further, something which could be reflected by the question mark in the title.
As a standalone album Differences is very accomplished with a professional and polished sound and rich, diverse influences. This is even more impressive considering it is B Young’s first multi-track release. In light of his previous singles (especially the most successful examples) and others on the record however, it at times seems slightly underwhelming. This may have been a conscious attempt from the London artist to use his debut effort to exhibit his maturity as the mainstream appeal of ‘Jumanji’ and ‘079ME’ is significantly contributed to by their playful charm. His statement ‘Jumanji 079 it’s getting old’ on ‘Living Easy?’ may not just refer to the challenges of frequent shows. A perfect album is virtually impossible though and the low points of this project would be the highlights of others. With this in mind, B Young has probably retained his ‘no skips’ and ‘quality over quantity’ reputations amongst his fans. Differences ultimately is an excellent illustration of B Young’s aptitude and potential that also demonstrates his ability to develop and expand his style making it hopefully an indicator of great success for him in the future.
Rating: 8/10
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