Exclusives 11 February 2022
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Author: Amelia Kelly

GRM Exclusive: 11 Hardest Yungen Punchlines

11 February 2022
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Back in 2017 Yungen told NME “I’m not here to be just another rapper in the country. I am here to be biggest, and that’s the god’s honest truth”. Ever since then, the rapper from South London has established a platinum-selling reputation and a discography defined by his distinctive punchline heavy lyrics.

At midnight, Yungen dropped Passionate & Paranoid – his first project in three years, following on from Project Purple which was released back in 2019. It’s a notable absence, but by no means does it discredit his highly-regarded reputation on the rap scene. Time and energy go into every release – if “Popstar”, the lead single on his new project, is anything to go by – Yungen is well aware the world is watching and waiting.

It’s a return characterised by an animated self-awareness – a passionate yet paranoid reflection of Yungen’s identity and rise to success. Naturally, by finding influence for his bars in a life that he’s living, they are elevated above the rest. Yungen is known for lyrical excellence and he isn’t going to let that phase out. Each lyric is fuelled with an energy that sets waves – he is here to change the game.

To celebrate the highly anticipated return of Yungen, we’ve produced an attentive, but by no means exhaustive, list of the rappers 11 Hardest Punchlines. Take in the skill of his previous work as we delve into the multifaceted discography of Yungen.

Off The Record” Feat Ari

Dropped out my dad cause he didn’t see the vision. I wanna spit bars all he ever saw was prison, he didn’t think rapping could of made a living, so I tell him turn on the radio and listen, Yeah thats me, I got a buzz now I’m where I wanna be, on my wave I want them to see.” 

The first instalment in a series that would become a mainstay throughout Yungen’s career. The “Off The Record” series features some of his most heartfelt and introspective lyrics, and this one really set the tone. The Steel Banglez produced piano led instrumental is one of his finest early works, and Yungen certainly does the beat justice.

“Bestie” Feat Yxng Bane

“Yeah I know they love this Young Buck, Many men, hide their girl from me, They got them on lock, but I got the key,They block me on insta, so I can’t pree Man I’ll come and take their wife away

Easily Yungen’s biggest track to date. You might be forgiven for remembering the tune just because of the inescapable hook courtesy of Yxng Bane, but as with any Yungen tune, he certainly packs in the punchlines. The interpolation of the classic 50 Cent tune “Many Men” certainly flew over many peoples heads. As with any Yungen punchline, there’s always more than one layer, he sets up the bar by referencing another lesser known member of G Unit, Young Buck.

“F64”

“And these days they don’t recognise talent I told ‘em give me space ‘cause I need time to plan it Lyrically out of this world, we don’t balance Tell me how the fuck that they’ve blown and I haven’t”

We couldn’t leave out his infamous 2011 feature on SBTV, “F64”. It’s the freestyle that arguably first shone a spotlight on a young Yungen, that has never faded. Here, he touches on the dedication he’s had to sticking to his roots and not being swayed by the misjudgement of others.

“P&P”

“Girls wanna sell stories and say they knew me, If the stories fishy I might have the sushi”

In 2017 Yungen released “Bestie” (feat. Yxng Bane) – gaining the South London an insane, multi-million stream reputation. It also showed a change in focus to narratives about women in his tracks – becoming a catchy element to his rep on the scene. A ladies man, always high energy. By contrast in this years “P&P Freestyle” Yungen spits ‘Girls wanna sell stories and say they knew me, if the stories fishy I might have the sushi’. Using the word ‘sushi’, which is heard as ‘sue she’, it’s a cutting reminder that it doesn’t matter who you are – no one can spread rumours to tarnish Yungen’s rep. Playfully discussing girls in terms of legality is something unexpected, but isn’t that the point?.

“Off The Record 3”

“I’ve got my dream whipped, but I’m still working like a slave, Move my mum out of the hood before I got myself a chain, Sixteen, I should’ve been in school getting grades, But I was putting my other best friend in the grave

“Off the Record 3” sees Yungen revealing personal aspects of his life, childhood aspirations up against the reality of growing up in a South London council estate. Bars like this emphasise a rawness in Yungen’s lyrics, which come as a direct response from lived experience. ‘Move my mum out of the hood before I got myself a chain’ emphasises his selfless reaction to fame. Placing this alongside his past is hard hitting and demonstrates his credible drive, despite what life throws at him. 

“Too Real”

“I ain’t ever gone back on a word, I see man go back on chapters
“They don’t wanna reverse no favours, I was taught ‘don’t ever go backwards”.

Yungen is extremely diverse when it comes to music. This cut from his debut album Project Black & Red, sees Yungen get deep and introspective in one of his best early tracks. Again opting for a piano led instrumental, Yungen lays it bare on this one. Currently sitting at a criminally under rated 692k, it’s certainly a track that more people need to check out.

“Fire In The Booth”

“Rappers falling off and they weren’t even on their feet, Repping for my home town, rolling in the deep Someone like you, na me no follow sheep”

Yungen frequented all of the major freestyle platforms in his early years, and he absolutely destroyed every single one of them. His FITB apperance was no different, there were countless lyrics we could of selected, but him paying homage to Adele in the lyric above is great. Especially considering he jumped on the “HomeTown Glory” instrumental a few years earlier. Take in our rundown of some of the best remixes right here.

“Away Games”

“Too many sheep, I’m the Sheppard Man talk to the pigs and get peppered, They say diss again but if I diss again I might break another Link Up record”

Yungen’s 2016 release “Away Games” features this crazy line which adds additional layers of meaning onto the insane track. ‘Too many sheep, I’m the Sheppard’ infers that in terms of music, Yungen knows what direction he’s going in and we should trust it. After all, the escalation of his platform has never stopped rising, and each track on his discography, especially Behind Barz on ‘Link Up’ TV, is the product of this Shepherds intuition. Of course, there’s the unmissable reference to Pepper Pig in ‘Man talk to the pigs and get peppered’. As usual Yungen ensures there’s multiple layers of his lyrics to decipher.

Yungen X MoStack – “IN2 Remix”

“Said she’s into bad boys, but she rates me highly (Haile), Said she’s into Stormzy, but wants a man like Tinie, Rude girl shut up, cuh me no want no wifey”

Yungen teams up with the great MoStack to provide a sick remix of the WSTRN classic. Yungen offers us a healthy dose of his trademark layer rap on this one, linking artists and their famous tracks together skilfully. Whether its braggadocios lyrics, or bars about his exploits with women; there really isn’t an area that Yungs hasn’t covered.

“Warm Up Session”

I get head from the Queen while she’s dressed in all pink ,Get it? Check it, my royalty’s prophetic, I’ll be living on William’s hill if I bet it, I’m tryna go Nationwide without no credit, And Abbey wants to fuck but I’m telling her forget it. Money first I’m just tryna get my grands up, I got my stick in Lloyd banks, hands up”

This legendary warm up session is from over a decade ago, which shows you just how long Yungen has been doing this. Even this far back, you can already tell just what a great lyricist Yungen actually was. Leading with a bag of bars relating to the royals, before diving into a string of bars linked to a range of banks in the UK. The whole session is packed with gems from Yungs, who would gone on to prove just how great he is.

“Daily Duppy”

Every Bar I spit is a wheel, cause its facts what I spoke, I’ve seen man boot and cut, this aint fashion, I wouldn’t suit a case, but my dog with me is packing, I’d still be a millionaire if I weren’t rapping, more time it goes over your head, them man are cappin, Its a new era all them old guys are real bitter, forget the clout blud you’re looking at a real spitter.

Probably his hardest freestyle to date was his recent apperance on the best looking freestyle series in the world, the iconic Daily Duppy. We could of easily included the entire two verses, but we selected a standout segment from the latter half of the Duppy which showcases his lyrical prowess.

Be sure to check out his latest album Passionate & Paranoid below right now!