Red Clay (Official Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Atlanta has long provided storytellers with experiences and settings that make for compelling songs and films. Seeing how much Georgia native 2 Chainz has brought to that city’s narrative with his music, it makes sense that he would eventually translate that to the big screen. Presented as a corresponding soundtrack to his short film Red Clay, this concise and collaborative set marks the second noteworthy project of the erstwhile Def Jam rapper’s new independent era. Opener “MUTUAL BONDS” mixes motivation with rumination, adding greater gravity to a track that seems to veer into intricate personal narratives. Of course, his Most Expensivest ethos naturally comes through on “I WANNA WIN” and “THOUGHT YOU LOVED ME”, yet the luxury stakes get downright stratospheric when Lil Yachty comes through with lavish, swaggering bars of his own on “SISTA WIVES”. In contrast, “DEAD BEAT MOMS” tries a more socially conscious tack that points both outward and inward, while the showstopper “THE ATL EXPERIENCE” features no less than The Isley Brothers to help deliver his message.