Gunna describes himself as a “human chandelier.” He is an Atlanta native, that’s been on the scene for a few years now, and is known for his distinct sound and collaborations with Lil Baby and Young Thug. Gunna’s second studio album Wunna came during a time when everyone could use something to shine on their lives. During the week leading up to the album release date of May 22, 2020 Gunna dropped three short documentary videos showing a glimpse into the album’s production. The album had a unique production by Gunna, his team, and producers spending some time in Jamaica working on the album, which they said allowed them to relax and just focusing on creating.
Wunna kicks off with the song “ARGENTINA” shows off Gunna’s classic sound by starting off with a mellow guitar strum. I could never explain the sound until watching the documentary, but one of Gunna’s producers says it’s a classic jazz feeling, that Atlanta producer, Turbo brings to the beat that creates the sound. His sound and flow are smooth and therapeutic like jazz and are heard throughout the entire album. While Gunna’s sound is consistent from the last album, and most of his features and singles since, I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. His sound works for him and not many others use his flow style, so it’s not super repetitive. Songs like “GIMMICK,” “DON’T PLAY AROUND,” and “NASTY GIRL/ ON CAMERA” do show him attempting to switch up his delivery though which is nice. Wunna has a few features including Young Thug, Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, Travis Scott, and Nechie which bring in some solid collaborations that compliment Gunna well.
Wunna is an album to listen to if you are just trying to have a good time or if you’re a true Gunna fan. The album is not the most poetic or lyrical, even though it does have some catchy lines. I feel as if the album is an example of something you can listen to in various scenarios like at a party, doing homework, or on a drive home. When listening to this album I think it’s best to be in the mood to just listen to the beats, and his voice and not pick apart the actual lyrics because the lyricism may be a little disappointing. In my opinion, the best songs to play in the background and vibe out to are “ARGENTINA”, “MOTW’, “WUNNA”, “MET GALA”, DO BETTER, and “FAR” because they are all so lowkey and soothing. Gunna also released a deluxe version of the album, adding eight new songs. Even though the songs on the deluxe version include more features with Nav, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, and Yak Gotti, they blend in well with the original album.
Overall, I enjoyed the production of the album, it is the main reason why I even listened. I think Gunna has a lot of potential due to his entire aesthetic and sound that would be complete by putting a little more effort into his lyricism. At the same time his choice of lyrics is what allows you to focus on the beat more and get immersed within the music itself. Hopefully Gunna will continue to drip through with some fresh new music.
Rating: 6.5/10
Favorite Tracks: “NASTY GIRL/ ON CAMERA”, “WUNNA”
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