[Editorial] Top 10 Essential YP Songs
Song: “Pray For Em” Feat . Kamilah Sumner (prod. by Mark Byrd)
Mixtape: No Sleep
Released: 2010
No Sleep will always be a special project for YP. It’s the first in his trilogy of themed projects, and as he’ll tell you, it’s the mixtape that put him on the map nationally. “Pray For’Em” is a special record and again shows YP’s depth as an artist. While he does have songs about the luxuries of rap life, no project from YP is missing heartfelt songs about the problems facing his community. This record in particular was dedicated to Derrion Albert and countless other teens who were the victim of gun violence.
Song: “It’s Whateva” Feat. Big Homie DOE (prod. By Nascent)
Mixtape: No Sleep
Released: 2010
Simply put, this is a banger top to bottom. It’s a hype song, and something that illustrates the a side of YP opposite to the one displayed on “Pray For’em”. Big Homie D.O.E. does a great job here as well, and makes us remember what it was like when he used to rap.
Song: “Something New” Feat. Freddie Gibbs (prod. By Million $ Mano)
Album: Closed Sessions Vol. 2/ No Sleep
Released: 2010
This list wouldn’t be complete without “Something New”, the Closed Sessions record that saw YP rap alongside Freddie Gibbs. This song became something of a cult classic, and is always a crowd favorite when performed live on stage. This was a great time, and looking back, will always be a special record for YP and Gibbs.
