On paper, James Blake and Lil Yachty are an unlikely duo. Yet, their collaborative album Bad Cameo proves to be an intriguing (albeit uneven) exploration that pushes both artists into new sonic territory. The record attempts to blend Blake’s signature ethereal production with rapper Yachty’s evolving R&B vision, and when it succeeds, the result is quite mesmerising.
At their best, Blake and Yachty’s creative choices are bold, creating a sound that is both familiar and refreshingly new. On tracks like Save The Savior and In Grey, the duo strike the delicate balance between experimentation and hooky melodic moments. The climax of Midnights stands out as a particular highlight, demonstrating their skill in building tension and emotion through subtle transitions and layered production. The album’s strongest moments come when their approaches harmonise – which is not always the case. The artists’ individual styles occasionally feel compromised by each other, particularly in Bad Cameo’s final act, resulting in a more muddled distillation of the vision that doesn’t stick the landing.
The union of Blake and Yachty is bound to be divisive amongst avid listeners of both artists. The novelty of a collaboration like this comes with the promise of something radical, which may leave some feeling wanting a bit more experimentation from Blake, or more of a shift from Yachty. It’s also incredibly quick, just shy of an hour – more time could have offered an opportunity for the duo’s ideas to sink deeper. While Bad Cameo may not fully deliver on the shock value, the album offers a nuanced incorporation of neo-psychedelia, ambient textures, and hints of trap. It’s a carefully curated collection of songs that warrants a few replays – most of these songs reveal new depths with each revisit.
