This is the second effort from Flint, Michigan emcee Lyte. He emerged a decade ago from his debut mixtape Follow Lytehe later signed to Insane Clown Posse's own Psychopathic Records on New Years 2017 and released his debut EP Psychopath MonStar that summer after the 18th annual Gathering of the Juggalos in Oklahoma. He left amicably two years later to focus on building his own record label MonStar Entertainment and becoming a father, returning 2.5 years ago for his debut album Transformation demonstrating his personal and artistic growth. MonStar has since evolved into a roster of its own, going from a showcase EP to returning Full Force.
“Dying Breed” opens with this wavy trap from Str8jaket talking about his species shrinking to the point of extinction, while “Feel the Way I Do” works in some pianos and strings asking if there's anyone who feels just in the same way as him. . “Time Will Tell” featuring Ant G finds the 2 over a trap reassuring everyone that they're nowhere near done, leading into “Made a Lot” talking about money, sacrifices and mistakes he's made.
Meanwhile, “Back in My Head” has Lyte showing off a faster flow over another snare fightback until he's just buried before “Full Deck” featuring Skitzo brings the pair together so they can talk for everyone who fucks with the wrong ones. “This Us” combines electronic dance music and trap giving away 0 weddings, but after “Brand New” with Project Born talking aggressively about people who behave just like that.
“It's Our Time” laces up some pianos and hi-harts discussing that now is MonStar Entertainment's time to shine, while “OMG” featuring Str8jaket talks about needing God in their lives right now even if he isn't the guy who prays. Stray's “Disarray” makes a stern promise to God that certain things won't happen again if he helps them, and Str8jaket's “Memories” is a 6-minute closer that breaks down how he wants to be remembered.
Transformation was a good debut giving the underground a glimpse of how much Lyte has changed on all fronts since signing to Psychopathic for a year and a half, which Full Force surpasses in quality. Production handled almost entirely by Str8jaket cranks up the trap sounds of 2.5 years ago, guests are limited to MonStar's current roster aside from a couple of outside collaborators, and Lyte himself sounds hungrier.
Rating: 8/10
