Gunna - Drip or Drown 2

Drip or Drown 2 marks a decisive turning point for Gunna, transforming his self-titled EP into a full studio album that reinvents Atlantic trap with rare maturity. Far from being a mere follow-up, this February 2019 release injects melodic elegance and humility into the rapper's voice. It is a carefully crafted sonic architecture where every collaboration serves a specific purpose without ever seeking to steal the spotlight.

Wit It: The opening track that defines Gunna's melodic flow

The album opens with Wit It, a track that leaves no doubt about the artistic direction chosen by Gunna. There is an intimacy in his flow, a capacity to deliver his words with careful diction but never with emphasis. The song functions as an introduction to the project: it sets the rules of the game, those of a rapper who prefers elegance over provocation. It is a first move that defines Gunna's trajectory between his 2017 EP Drip or Drown and his subsequent album WUNNA (2020). This is not a simple transition; it is an affirmation: here, the rapper no longer seeks to impress with complex rhymes or obscure references. He simply wants to tell a story, with a voice that carries through walls without ever forcing attention.

Richard Millie Plain: The caressing guitar as the album's signature

If Wit It opens the project, it is Richard Millie Plain that becomes one of its sonic pillars. The production here rests on a close collaboration with Wheezy, producer of the previous EP, and on an aesthetic choice that marks a difference: caressing guitars, soft ambiances, elegant accompaniment rather than rock aggression or classic trap violence. The New York Times even sees in it a striking example of this ability to use strings with tenderness, transforming the beat into a layer of accompaniment that serves the rapper's voice more than it crushes it. It is there that Gunna proves his mastery: he does not use these instruments to make "scabrous rock" or to try to sound hard. He uses them as a velvet bed, a surface on which to glide without ever tearing himself away. The track perfectly illustrates this philosophy: the flow is laid down, almost sung, and every syllable finds its place in this soundscape that resembles more of a night drive than a race toward glory.

Derek Fisher feat. Lil Baby: a collaboration anchoring the project in its universe

Track 8, Derek Fisher, is credited as a feature with Lil Baby. It's no coincidence that Gunna chose this artist to mark his presence on his first studio album. His involvement here isn't therefore an isolated opportunity; it fits into a strong artistic continuity showing that Gunna already knew who he wanted around him. Lil Baby's voice adds another layer to the project, that of a young rapper sharing the same vision for soft and melodic trap. This feature doesn't seek to steal the spotlight but rather reinforces the message: two artists whose flows complement each other without canceling one another out. This track is therefore less a simple guest appearance than an affirmation of the place Gunna already occupied in the Atlantic rap ecosystem, well before the official release of his studio album.

3 Headed Snake feat. Young Thug: The Textural and Experimental Contribution

On 3 Headed Snake, Young Thug brings his unique touch. There is nothing improvised about this collaboration: here, he doesn't come to rap like everyone else; he comes to add color, the unexpected, that experimental dimension that makes Gunna unlike anyone else in his category. His voice is almost an additional instrument on the track: it moves across syllables, cuts and returns, creating sonic spaces where Gunna can breathe between his lines. This is what distinguishes 3 Headed Snake from other featuring tracks on the album: it's not a simple layering of voices; it's a true sonic dialogue. Young Thug doesn't take charge of the track; he enriches its layers, like adding a touch of ink to an already finished drawing.

Same Yung Nigga feat. Playboi Carti: The Distinct Energy Touch

The album's final feature appears on "Same Yung Nigga," with Playboi Carti. As before, this wasn't a chance meeting: Gunna and Carti had already crossed paths on Drip Season 2 (2017), where Carti marked the project with a distinctive flow that didn't resemble anything else from the era. Here, he brings that same energy but in a more restrained version, better integrated into the album's overall sound. It's not an explosion; it's a nuance: Playboi Carti adds a different texture, almost like a second character stepping onto the stage without taking over for the other. His fast and choppy flow contrasts with Gunna's, giving the track an interesting dynamic. It's this diversity in collaborations that makes the album rich: each feature brings something specific; nothing repeats, no voice drowns out the other.

The album closes with Who You Foolin, a track that might seem less fitting for an opening or mid-album position than it is for its actual role in the overall structure of the project. It doesn't attempt to close things with a dramatic twist, nor does it offer a final declaration meant to summarize the entire record. Instead, it simply concludes, like a breath after a long conversation. This aligns with the general spirit of Drip or Drown 2: a project that seeks not to impress through forced moves but to progress gently without ever startling its audience. The total runtime is 48 minutes and 15 seconds, placing it in a rare category for a debut studio album from a rapper of this generation: there are no unnecessary tracks, no filler. Every song serves the overall message, making the closing track the logical final period.

Drip or Drown 2 follows a clear trajectory from the eponymous EP released in 2017, but it does more than simply repeat it. It deepens its themes, refines the production, and confirms that Gunna was far more than a fleeting phenomenon. The RIAA Gold certification dated November 13, 2019, for 500,000 combined units (sales and album equivalents) is concrete proof of this commercial success. Furthermore, the album fits into a trajectory that naturally leads to WUNNA (2020), his next studio album. In between, Gunna makes no chronological errors: he does not confuse this album with the eponymous EP, nor does he simply reproduce what he has already done. He moves forward, and that is where all the strength of the project lies.

Technical Details

- Release Date: February 22, 2019 - Record Label: YSL Records - Tracks: 16 (48 min 15 s) - Opening / Closing Track: "Wit It" / "Who You Foolin'" - Guests: Lil Baby, Young Thug, Playboi Carti - Previous Album: Drip Harder (2018)