Jazz Butler (also known as Tracy, Yung Bruh, Lil Tracy, Tracy Minaj) has released over 20 mixtapes and over 10 extended play albums since he started his music career in 2013. Originally from Virginia, Tracy moved to California when he was 18 to pursue this career and ended up meeting and making music with the group Gothboiclique. This group also incorporated members like HorseHead, Lil Peep, Mackned, and Cold Hart. However, after the death of Lil Peep in 2017, the group separated entirely and members began turning on each other due to Peep's leftover fame and wealth.
Since the separation of GBC, Tracy has pretty much kept to himself and focused on creating new music for his audience. Earlier this year Tracy released the hit single "Like a Farmer (featuring Lil Uzi Vert) which focused on living a simpler lifestyle "Got a big ol' truck, so we all gon' ride. I'm sippin lean like a Coors Lite" Later, the company Mass Appeal created a short documentary about Tracy's life and his music making process. Since then he has released the extended play album Designer Talk and the long-awaited Sinner EP. Both of these projects show a new musical direction that Tracy wants to pursue and what he will have to endeavor to get there. Out of both projects I prefer Sinner due to the obvious style and lyrical change that he has created.
The first track off of Sinner starts with "Tattoos." This upbeat song incorporates a catchy chorus "Kiss the tattoos on my neck, baby tell me that you love me" along with different ideas of being depressed no matter how much money you have. "I'm getting rich, I'ma die in a mansion." I really liked the minimalist style that Tracy created in this track because there is just enough content to establish exactly what he wants to address, while he leaves out the boring details.
The next song "Rain Rain Go Away" is one of my favorites off of this project. Although the chorus is set up similarly to the last track, these new lyrics give an insight into what he was feeling during the time of Peep's death. "I swear Ima lose my mind if I lose anyone else." He also raps about how he's trying to be healthier by "chewin on zucchini" and asks questions about why people are so opposed to him "Why they tryna drag my name through the mud." The beat in this song is easy to get behind and fits perfectly with the lyrics being rapped.
The third track "Bacteria" begins with a soft acoustic guitar and leads into Tracy's iconic "Lil Tracy" introduction. This song speaks in more detail about he was feeling about Peep's death "I still remember how I felt when I found out Gus died. I seen his momma cry and I swear that made me cry." This track also adds his perception of the people around him to be "bacteria" due to their treatment of him. I was super happy to hear him discuss the sensitive subject of Peep's death because he was the only member of GBC that refused to discuss the subject at the time. By him referencing the event in his songs, he shows that he is slowly getting over the tragic event.
"Heart" is the fourth song on this project and features a sample from the emo band Brand New. This sample of the song "Batter Up" which is off the band's final album Science Fiction gave me bittersweet emotions. These feelings stem from the lead singer Jesse Lacey confirming a statement that he had sexually offended a girl during the band's career. Although Lacey's wife has forgiven him, it creates a problem of separating a person from the music they create. In "Heart" Tracy references how his fans want the old him back, whereas now he's trying to become a different and healthier person. His music is bound to reflect this obvious lifestyle change and I applaud his efforts.
The final track "Lil Whore" is a shout out from Tracy to the people that he considers to have benefitted on his best friend's death. I hated the introduction to this song because it sounded cliché "Lil Tracy gang bitch, ha ha ha ha", however, I really enjoyed some of the shade he threw at producer Smokeasac and rap artist Fat Nick. Lyrics like "Smoke him like a sac lil whore" and "We don't smoke Nick's this blunt is fat lil whore" show Tracy's dislike of both individuals. He also claims that when Peep died "so did their careers". Additionally, Tracy raps about his newfound healthy lifestyle and his disapproval of doing hard drugs "Stop poppin' perkies and sippin' on that heroine. Stop poppin' xans are you dumb? I'm sippin water cause its fun." He goes on to name himself the "black Lil Peep" which was out of place and out of character for him.
Overall this EP was refreshing to hear from Tracy. I didn't hear any bangers as I heard on Castles II or Tracy's Manga but I definitely enjoyed the EP from start to finish. I wouldn't buy this album on vinyl because I felt like there wasn't enough content on this project and that some things could have been added. This EP received a five out of 10 for Tracy creating a new and great style of music, however, the tracklist could have been improved and the songs could have been longer.