YSIV (abbreviation of Young Sinatra IV) is the fourth studio album by American rapper Logic, released on September 28, 2018, by Visionary Music Group and Def Jam Recordings. The album art, featuring a mugshot of Logic, is stylized similarly to the famous mugshot of Frank Sinatra and reminiscent of the artwork for Logic's second mixtape Young Sinatra, released in 2011. The album serves as a sequel to the mixtape Young Sinatra: Welcome to Forever, released in 2013, and is the fourth and final installment of the Young Sinatra series.[1] The album is notable for being credited as an album in the Young Sinatra series, as the previous titles were released as mixtapes. It features guest appearances from all living members of Wu-Tang Clan, Wale, Jaden, Ryan Tedder and Hailee Steinfeld, among others.

YSIV
Logic mimicking the famous Frank Sinatra mugshot
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 28, 2018 (2018-09-28)
Recorded2017–2018
Genre
Length76:03
Label
Producer
Logic chronology
Bobby Tarantino II
(2018)
YSIV
(2018)
Supermarket
(2019)
Singles from YSIV
  1. "One Day"
    Released: July 27, 2018
  2. "The Return"
    Released: August 24, 2018
  3. "Everybody Dies"
    Released: September 7, 2018

Background

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In July, August and September 2018, Logic released three singles "One Day" featuring Ryan Tedder, "The Return", and "Everybody Dies".[2][3][4]

The album features the song "Wu Tang Forever" which features all the surviving members of the Wu Tang Clan including Method Man, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, Cappadonna, RZA, GZA, Ghostface Killah.[5] The song "YSIV" has Logic paying tribute to rapper Mac Miller, who died earlier in the month via accidental drug overdose.

Release and promotion

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YSIV was released on September 28, 2018. For the first single "One Day", Logic released a music video for the song.[6] The music video caused controversy, as it sympathized with the plight of undocumented migrants in the United States.[7] He later performed the song at the 2018 VMA Awards with collaborator Ryan Tedder, where he brought hundreds of migrant children onto the stage.[8] Logic himself wore a shirt which read, "F**k The Wall", and the kids wore shirts reading, "We Are All Human Beings".[9][10] On August 28, Logic released a video titled "YSIV Freestyle" and a social media post, finally announcing Young Sinatra IV along with its album cover.[11] A few weeks prior to release of the album, Logic hosted an exclusive listening party with his fans, uploading a short movie about it to YouTube.[12][13]

The album was released in the same week as another high-profile hip hop album, Tha Carter V by Lil Wayne.[14]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic71/100[15]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [16]
Exclaim!8/10[17]
Highsnobiety     [18]
HipHopDX4/5[19]
Pitchfork5.5/10[20]
Rolling Stone     [21]
XXL4/5[22]

YSIV received positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 71, based on 7 reviews.[15] Riley Wallace from HipHopDX gave a positive review saying, "Overall, Bobby has bars for days — and days — and as a consistent top to bottom play, YSIV has vibrant energy. If you can listen to this LP the whole way through and doubt his pen game, then the question becomes: "what does he have to do to please you?" If getting the entire Wu-Tang Clan on a song doesn't impress you, nothing will."[19] Charles Holmes from XXL said, "YSIV succeeds when it forgoes pretentious views on what hip-hop should be and instead focuses on what makes the self-proclaimed Young Sinatra unique. The trio of "Everybody Dies", "The Return", and "The Glorious Five" feature the Everybody MC at his most fluid and nimble."[22] Riley Wallace wrote another review for Exclaim! where he said, "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."[17] Jon Caramanica from The New York Times said, "YSIV — the conclusion of his Young Sinatra series of mixtapes — is his most confident and accomplished release to date, shaking off some of the awkwardness that has long peppered his music."[23] Trey Alston from Highsnobiety praised the project, saying that "YSIV is gaudy, confident, and cocksure; Logic talks his shit without filter, crafting mesmerizing narratives, witty punchlines, and out-of-his-comfort-zone experiments – often on the same track. It amounts to an absorbing final installment of a series that already functions as an inordinate quantum of comfort food. We're finally stuffed."[18] Andy Kellman from AllMusic said, "What comes through most is Logic's self-acknowledged eminence, an abundance of lyrical and sonic references to what he calls "real rap," and an insatiable eagerness"[16]

Some critics gave the album mixed feedback. Alphonse Pierre from Pitchfork said, "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."[20] Christopher R. Weingarten from Rolling Stone said, "The chart-topping rapper positions himself as a scrappy underdog with go-getter ambition and complex bars. Logic rhymes in exciting ways, but the meanings can be a little strained."[21]

Commercial performance

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YSIV debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 with 167,000 album-equivalent units, including 122,000 album sales in its first week.[24] It is Logic's fifth US top 10 album, and second in 2018.[24]

Track listing

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Credits adapted from Tidal.[25]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Thank You" (featuring Lucy Rose and The RattPack)
  • Vontae Thomas
  • Rascal
7:10
2."Everybody Dies"4:10
3."The Return"
  • Hall II
  • Ivatury
  • Dimitri Tiomkin
  • Ned Washington
6ix4:12
4."The Glorious Five"
  • Hall II
  • Ivatury
  • Matthew Crabtree
  • 6ix
  • Matthew Crabtree
3:36
5."One Day" (featuring Ryan Tedder)
  • 6ix
  • Tedder
3:18
6."Wu Tang Forever" (featuring Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, RZA, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Cappadonna, Jackpot Scotty Wotty, U-God, Masta Killa and GZA)
  • 6ix
  • NAZ.
8:07
7."100 Miles and Running" (featuring Wale and John Lindahl)
5:53
8."Ordinary Day" (featuring Hailee Steinfeld)
6ix3:08
9."YSIV"6ix6:09
10."Street Dreams II"
  • Hall II
  • Ivatury
6ix4:26
11."The Adventures of Stoney Bob" (featuring Kajo, Slaydro and Big Lenbo)
  • Hall II
  • Ivatury
  • Barrington Levy
  • Arkae Tuazon
  • Frank Umana-Soto
  • Leon Ressalam
  • 6ix
  • Kajo
4:20
12."Legacy"
  • Hall II
  • Portillo
  • Jamahal Osley
  • NAZ.
  • Sunny Norway
5:51
13."Iconic" (featuring Jaden Smith)
  • Hall II
  • Ivatury
  • Melvin Lewis
  • NAZ.
  • Sunny Norway
4:58
14."Last Call"
  • Hall II
  • Ivatury
  • Isaiah Elwell
  • 6ix
  • Izaiah
10:45
Total length:76:03


Notes

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ "Logic Unveils "Young Sinatra IV" Tracklist". HiphopDX. September 24, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  2. ^ "Logic Announces New Single 'One Day' Feat. OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder". Billboard. July 25, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  3. ^ "Listen to Logic's New Song 'The Return'". Pitchfork. August 24, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  4. ^ "Logic Proclaims To Be Top 3 On "Everybody Dies" Single". HiphopDX. September 8, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  5. ^ Holmes, Charles (2018-09-28). "How Logic Reunited Wu-Tang Clan on His New Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2018-10-04.
  6. ^ "Logic & Ryan Tedder Release 'One Day' Music Video". Billboard. August 17, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  7. ^ Aswad, Jem (August 17, 2018). "Logic Drops Hard-Hitting New Video Slamming Trump's Immigration Policies". Variety. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  8. ^ Havens, Lyndsey (August 20, 2018). "Logic and Ryan Tedder Reunite Families During 2018 MTV VMA Performance Of 'One Day': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  9. ^ Han, Karen (August 20, 2018). "Watch: Logic's emotional VMAs performance protesting family separation". Vox. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  10. ^ Yoo, Noah (August 20, 2018). "MTV VMAs 2018: Watch Logic and Ryan Tedder Perform "One Day" With Immigrant Families". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  11. ^ "Logic Takes Aim at His Critics On Blistering 'YSIV Freestyle,' Announces New Album 'Young Sinatra 4'". Billboard. August 29, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  12. ^ "Logic Is Letting Fans Be a Part of 'Young Sinatra IV'". Complex. September 5, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  13. ^ "Logic's YSIV Fan Experience". September 26, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ "Lil Wayne Releases 'Tha Carter V,' Logic Drops 'Young Sinatra IV'; Kanye West Postpones". Forbes. September 28, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  15. ^ a b "YSIV by Logic". Metacritic. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  16. ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "YSIV - Logic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  17. ^ a b Wallace, Riley (October 3, 2018). "Logic - YSIV". Exclaim!. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  18. ^ a b Alston, Trey (October 4, 2018). "Logic's 'YSIV' Is a Fun Ride Through Bold, Swaggering Boom Bap". Highsnobiety. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  19. ^ a b Wallace, Riley (October 1, 2018). "Review: Album & Mixtape Logic Go Half On Bar-Filled "Young Sinatra IV"". HipHopDX. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  20. ^ a b Pierre, Alphonse (October 4, 2018). "Logic – Young Sinatra IV". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  21. ^ a b Weingarten, Christopher (October 4, 2018). "Review: Logic Is a Solid Motivational Speaker on 'YSIV'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  22. ^ a b Wallace, Riley (October 3, 2018). "Logic 'YSIV' Album Is A Dedication To Boom-Bap — For Better Or Worse". XXL. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  23. ^ Caramanica, Jon (October 3, 2018). "Lil Wayne Becomes an Elder, While Logic Grows Up". The New York Times. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  24. ^ a b c Caulfield, Keith (October 7, 2018). "Lil Wayne's 'Tha Carter V' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 With Second-Largest Streaming Week Ever for an Album". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  25. ^ "Young Sinatra IV / Logic". Tidal. 28 September 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  26. ^ "Logic feat. Wu-Tang Clan's "Wu Tang Forever"". WhoSampled. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  27. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Logic – YSIV". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  28. ^ "Ultratop.be – Logic – YSIV" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  29. ^ "Logic Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  30. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Logic – YSIV". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  31. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Logic – YSIV" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  32. ^ "Logic: YSIV" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  33. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Logic". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  34. ^ "Charts.nz – Logic – YSIV". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  35. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Logic – YSIV". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  36. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  37. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Logic – YSIV". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  38. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Logic – YSIV". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  39. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  40. ^ "Logic Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  41. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  42. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2020.