Respected in the Atlanta rap scene for his flow and his work ethic, Yung Mal is ready to take the next step. Charting his evolution from young-and-hungry striver to CEO of his own 1.5 Da Label, Yung Mal shares 1.5 Way Or No Way, his new mixtape. Named after the neighborhood in which he grew up, and for a phrase that was a favorite of his late homie Plug, 1.5 Way Or No Way is a mature and versatile effort. Mal’s rhymes are more polished and precise, showing off a newfound facility with melody to complement the tricky rhythms and bar-line manipulations that characterize his flows, and his lyrics offer a new perspective–the perspective of a father of a young son and daughter and a neighborhood leader who bears the hopes and dreams of his friends on his back. The new project features contributions from some of the South’s most prominent names, but also makes space for Mal’s close friends, including producer Gutta Tay, 1.5 Da Label signee RealTaker, and Mal’s longtime rap partner Lil Quill.
1.5 Way Or No Way is home to recent singles like “Walkin,” an ominous banger with a standout verse from Pooh Shiesty, and the title track “1.5 Way Or No Way,” a new anthem that serves as the mission statement for the project. Featuring additional appearances from G Herbo, Lil Gotit, BIG30, and Slimelife Shawty, 1.5 Way Or No Way is available everywhere via Alamo Records.
Along with the new project, Mal shares the music video for “Wassup Wit Me,” a spritely new single featuring G Herbo. Produced by KiidMaestro, “Wassup Wit Me” is a confident, yet wistful trap track that gets its power from sparkling piano melodies and hyperactive 808s. Mal and Herbo buoyantly bounce on the beat, offering clever flexes (“I got more money than all my teachers,” spits Mal) with some introspection mixed in (“PTSD, but I’m G, so I heal from it,” says Herbo). In the video, directed by Benmarc, Mal dreams of living large in Los Angeles, riding around in his Tesla (“that b*tch got wings, just like Jeepers Creepers) and partying with Herbo on a Downtown L.A. rooftop.
Yung Mal has kept busy in the early part of 2021 with a line of high-quality visuals, including “Belaire,” “Look At Me Now” and “Stay Down.” The upcoming 1.5 Way Or No Way is Mal’s first mixtape since his successful two 2020 releases: 6 Rings, a full-length collab with rising producer Pyrex Whippa that received praise from publications like HYPEBEAST and XXL, and Iceberg Sosa, produced in full by Memphis producer Sosa808 (Key Glock, G Herbo), which featured highlight video singles like “Hitstick” and “Own Drip.”
Buy/Stream 1.5 Way Or No Way: http://smarturl.it/15WayOrNoWay