Ty Dolla $ign - Cheers to the Best Memories

Memories. The opening track is not merely a promise; it's a statement of fact. From the very first note, the album establishes an atmosphere where the R&B of Canadian duo Dvsn rubs against Ty Dolla $ign's voice to form an immediate sonic unit. It is indeed a collaborative studio project between the duo formed by Nicolas "Nick" Miller and Daniel "Danny" Tannenbaum and American Tyler "Ty" Bell, released on August 20, 2021 via OVO Sound and Warner Records. Between Featuring Ty Dolla $ign (2020) and VULTURES 1 (2024), this album serves as a necessary interlude in the artist's trajectory, marking a turning point where featuring ceases to be a mere gimmick and becomes the very heart of the project.

Can't Tell feat. YG: the aggressive contrast that grounds the project in rap reality

If Memories sets the scene with gentleness, it is on track five that the balance breaks down radically. The track Can't Tell, credited to YG, hits like a fist thrown in the face of an R&B genre too prone to daydreaming. This guest does not merely provide a decorative presence: he brings a dose of hardcore rap and aggression that contrasts violently with the album's dreamlike atmosphere. This injection of raw energy serves as a reminder that Ty Dolla $ign is not just a singer of soft harmonies, but also knows how to navigate more turbulent waters. Here, the collaboration does not dilute the sound; rather, it densifies it through friction. It is precisely this kind of tension that transforms the album into a living space, far from being a mere compilation of vocal idylls.

Somebody That You Don't Know feat. Rauw Alejandro: the Latin and rhythmic injection

The album concludes at number eleven on the charts with a track that shifts registers once again with the arrival of Mac Miller on "I Believed It." Where YG brought the shock and Rauw Alejandro added exotic color, Mac Miller brings something else: emotional depth and additional introspection. His voice reinforces the personal side of the record, transforming what could have been a purely stylistic project into a genuine intimate confession. This collaboration, placed just before the end of the album, acts as a melancholic crescendo that validates the hypothesis of an album where every guest was chosen for their ability to open a different window onto the soul of Ty Dolla $ign.

Verdict: A collaborative project that defines a collective identity

Cheers to the Best Memories doesn't just add features to Ty Dolla $'s discography; it reinvents the very concept of studio collaboration. Every guest, whether they came before or after this album, has a precise role here: YG grounds the project in raw rap reality, Rauw Alejandro opens it up to international horizons, and Mac Miller makes it a place for introspection. Dvsn's atmospheric production serves as a backdrop for these different vocal facets without ever drowning them out with its synth layers. This is an album that marks a turning point in the artist's discography: it confirms his ability to navigate between soft R&B and international collaborations while preserving a coherent artistic identity, far from the myth of a guest-heavy catalog where everyone speaks for themselves.

Technical Details

- Release Date: August 20, 2021 - Label: OVO Sound, Warner Records - Tracks: 11 (32 min 18 s) - Opening / Closing Track: Memories / I Believed It - Guests: YG, Rauw Alejandro, Mac Miller - Previous Album: Featuring Ty Dolla $ign (2020)