Ty Dolla $ Proves Himself On 'Free Tc'
Ty Dolla $ign is far from your typical R&B singer. With a raspy voice, ripped jeans, a love for weed and possibly the longest dreads in the business, he is concocting a new style of R&B artistry in his hometown of Los Angeles, California. Gone are the days of yesteryear when a young Chris Brown was channeling Michael Jackson on “Gimme That” or a corn-rowed Trey Songz serenaded on “Just Gotta Make It” back in 2005. “Free TC” is the new, the now, and the manifestation of multiple sounds and genres coming together to make a strong album in a genre that’s finally starting to move in that direction.
The rollercoaster that is “Free TC kicks” off with a homage to Ty’s birthplace with “L.A.,” featuring current Los Angeles king Kendrick Lamar, Brandy and James Fauntleroy, which could easily slid in as a middle track of Dr. Dre’s “Compton” album that released earlier this year. This inspirational ballad of Los Angeles culture and lifestyle oozes palm trees, cookouts and gangbanging as Brandy and Fauntleroy deliver a graceful chorus that pairs to Dolla $ign’s crooning like fresh gouda and a good merlot.
From this moment on the album takes a variety of twists and turns. And while some of the turns lead to strong tracks that make this album solid, the latter half of “Free TC” is what keeps this album from being truly great.
“Solid” and “Credit” show a vocal-heavy side of the album. Babyface contributes to the former with a simple yet pleasant acoustic instrumental, and Ty Dolla $ign showcases his singing ability that’s sometimes overshadowed on his more trap influenced songs like “Blasé” and “Only Right.”
On “Credit” we start to see the Taylor Gang singer/songwriter show a more compassionate side as he asks for some appreciation from his girl who just keeps nagging him about his past, even though it may be warranted. Sevyn Streeter’s small bit elevates the song in a big way, and the piano chords and horns to finish off this track give the song an old-school 90s R&B feel that makes it one of the high points on the album.
The negatives begin to roll in at “Guards Down,” which features Kanye West screeching without auto-tune and Diddy offering some words of wisdom. Both of these features are disappointing, but especially Kanye where his name on the title does more good than his actual musical contribution. The song itself has substance, great production and the most uplifting concept of the entire album that could have been a great track sans the features.
After that, the majority of the second half is filled with radio smashes and singles like “Blasé”, “Only Right” and “Sitting Pretty.” Ty has made his name on songs like this, and they got to be somewhere, right? Those three songs are lumped together in the span of four tracks, so it seems to pass rather quickly, but the lack of substance and creativity is surely missed from the initial eight songs.
The absolute highest point of this 16-track project comes right in the middle with “Miracle”/“Wherever” which features Ty’s younger brother TC who is currently facing a life sentence in jail for a crime that his big brother doesn’t believe he committed. TC’s verse and hook was originally recorded from prison and ripped from a YouTube video, and even with the drop in sound quality, TC boasts one of the best voices on the album.
“Wherever” is an eerie proclamation of spontaneous public intercourse that sounds like an intimate night at Jason Voorhees’ house. Ty and his female of the night can barely get out of her mom’s neighborhood before she’s all over him and on his lap, and of course the sex is crazy. Dolla $ign trills along in this dark and ghostly ballad and offers one of the most unique R&B songs of the year to finish one of the most unique albums of this year.
In a recent vlog episode of Ty Dolla $ign’s life on tour, Ty is seen kicking over chairs and a table with beverages that were prepared for him in a clean room with maroon drapes and decorated carpeting. What’s left is a mess, but one that he and his friends enjoy, laughing as they exit the room. “Free TC” is that beautiful mess on the floor. It can be raunchy and downright dirty like hot sex in the backseat or gangbanging on the block. And it can pleasant like guitar strings plucked by Babyface or the wide range of notes Ty hits on each track. Despite the lackluster features and a second half that falters after track eight, the distinct sound and variety that’s on “Free TC” solidifies Ty Dolla $ign as one of the most rounded artists in the game.