Content warning: Lyrics pertaining to depression, drug addiction and suicide. If you or someone you know is dealing with mental illness, you can find support at the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Many know Yung Lean from the meme and eventual Tik-Tok-viral song “Ginseng Strip 2002.” Still, many have yet to realize the other, more serious side of his output, especially when compared to his old material. For example, Lean has an indie rock output under the name jonatan leandoer96 and was a part of the short-lived punk band Död Mark with fellow Sadboys member Gud. He has also struggled with his mental health, as he illustrates his experience with psychosis in his song “Agony” and his fight for mental well-being in another song called “Shadowboxing.”
His friend and frequent collaborator Bladee has been there for him, according to the documentary “In My Mind.” He joined in co-creating “Psykos,” their newest collaborative album, alongside producers Palmistry and Silent Sky. Despite the short 22:16 runtime, “Psykos” is refreshing for both artists and proves to their fans that they’re much more than a single genre.
“Psykos” begins with the spoken word piece “Coda.” Lush stringed instruments accompany Lean and Bladee’s combination of speaking and singing. Lean and Bladee seem to yearn for a more hospitable and comforting world, but that hope is subsequently crushed by the dark turn the song takes in the latter half.
Bladee notes how nobody seems to care and acknowledges evils he describes as “putrid,” while Lean talks about his battle with drug addiction since he was 13. He also describes feeling like he must let go of the world’s weight on his shoulders. Their emo-rap roots developed both their abilities to grasp the negativity they face, but the serious, non-cloud rap backing track gives their words a new nuance.
In “Ghosts,” Bladee and Lean go full alternative rock with an acoustic guitar at the beginning, growing into a full alt-rock composition fit with drums and, later, an electric guitar. Despite the sonic changes, both artists use their standard vocal styles in their other projects: Bladee singing and Lean alternating between rapping and singing. It’s a shift from what fans are used to when they think of Yung Lean. It becomes apparent that “Psykos” is like a more polished jonatan leandoer96 project.
“Golden God” integrates Lean and Bladee’s typical sounds with additions of post-punk inspired production and Biblical references courtesy of Palmistry and Silent Sky’s work. In the chorus, Lean reflects on his time as a musical artist in the lyric, “Ten years, blood, sweat and love, still standing tall.” “Golden God” is the first showcase of Bladee rapping in “Psykos.”
“Still” has one of the most striking Bladee verses on the entire album on an emotive piano track that evolves to include bass and heavy processed drums. Bladee analyzes the dynamic between a murderer and their victims and then turns to religion to absolve himself. Lean takes over the song by offering the audience strong imagery about flying (presumably away from stress and problems) and the growth of trees cleansing the Earth.
“Sold Out” gives the audience a breather from the gloom of the instrumental with a pop-like song that sounds like something Eyedress would make. It’s reminiscent of popular music in the 2010s and is easy on the ears. However, the lyrics are still rather depressing. It begins innocently with Lean singing about a girl, but then Bladee begins his first verse with the lyric, “She saw the whole world, she saw me die in her eyes, trying to, I can’t live.” This song grapples with Lean and Bladee’s broken youth, suicidality and loneliness.
In “Hanging From The Bridge,” Bladee and Lean thematically oppose each other on the concept of succumbing to suicidal urges. Lean sings, “It’s not over, never over,” in response to Bladee singing, “Commit a fruitless crime to win a stupid prize, Judas rise, our faith is glued and dried,” among other lines about suicidal urges. “Can’t hide from the fact that this feeling is back” is another simple yet powerful line that could help people with similar experiences feel seen.
“Enemy” starts bleakly with Bladee singing about being trapped and deprived of basic needs. In a left turn, the instrumental grows to give Lean’s rapping maximum impact. Although Lean typically raps nonchalantly, his delivery in this song is uplifting and empowering in a way that you’ll only understand if you take the time to listen intently.
“Things Happen” is a simple outro that is open-ended lyrically. It leaves the audience wondering what’s next not only for Yung Lean and Bladee, but by proxy, themselves too. The final words of the album are Lean singing, “Just let go,” which is vague and ambiguous. The audience must choose which life they want to live.
The closing track, “Psykos,” may be gloomy and depressing, but in between the cracks of the project lay glimmers of hope for the future. As Bladee says, we can’t hide from the fact that these feelings exist, so they must be expressed. If someone can be helped or otherwise get something out of your expression, then it was worth it.
4.5/5