ILL GOTTEN GAINS
All Hail Y.T. & Observe Since ’98
2023
Ill Gotten Gains, is (mostly) an album about how to succeed in business by, well, trying. “Doing deals with discernment,” Y.T. raps in “C.E.O.,” “Reading terms and agreements/ Devil’s in the details, I peeped it/ playing defense fiscally.” As the song winds toward its conclusion, the voice of Dame Dash appears, extolling the virtues of putting your shoulder to the grindstone to build your own empire.
At this point in history, there are enough albums about the luxury of the gangster life to fill several hundred ocean liners; Ill Gotten’s dedication to sound fiscal advice on its own makes the album a breath of fresh air. Whether he’s dispensing pithy koans or reveling in the spoils of his hard work, he has all the optimism of a motivational speaker.
He’s matched perfectly by Observe’s characteristically inventive production, which forgoes the obvious picks in favor of finding choice breaks buried on Italian pop records and sources that are even tougher to place. Musically, the album is the perfect backdrop for the three-day weekend; lyrically, it will prime you for the week to come.” –J. Edward Keyes (Bandcamp Daily)
Stand-Out Tracks
ILL GOTTEN GAINS
Sunset Reflections
Dollars & Sense
