Gunna returns with his new album ‘The Last Wun,’ with features from Wizkid, Offset, Burna Boy and more.
Gunna
Morgan Maher
Gunna has returned with The Last Wun, a 25-track affair that serves as the follow-up to last year’s One of Wun album, and finds Gunna reuniting with producer Turbo.
Though not confirmed, The Last Wun also might serve as an end to Gunna’s time on YSL Records. The rapper’s relationship with the label, led by Young Thug, has grown publicly complicated following his involvement in the controversial YSL RICO trial. Gunna accepted a plea deal that led to his release, but the move allegedly strained his relationship with Thugga. While neither rapper has commented on the rumored strain, Young Thug has offered a few deleted tweets that gauge his feelings on the matter.
As for the cover art, it was an original painting designed by artist DeJardin, who told Rolling Stone the picture was about communicating the rapper’s state of mind.
“It was about trying to capture Gunna in his essence of where he is in his life,” DeJardin explained, “and then adding stylistic elements to it, to represent anger and vengefulness but also represent peace, stability, perseverance, grinding. It’s like he’s working through his pain and grit, and he has a literal chip on the shoulder as if he’s got something to prove right now.”
Gunna last earned a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with 2022’s DS4EVER, but all of his albums have peaked inside the chart’s top three, and reached No. 1 on the Top Rap Albums chart. While it remains to be seen if The Last Wun will do the same, let’s dive into the music.
Here is Billboard‘s ranking of every song on Gunna’s The Last Wun.
-
“Podcast”
Gunna grumbles his way through “Podcast”: energy-wise, the song dips through the floor, begging the question why Gunna felt a need to crank out 25 songs in the first place. “Podcast” is another song that feels like it could have been discarded in favor of a little more variety.
-
“Biting My Game”
This song is grating, the melodies repetitive and unremarkable. It’s hard to not feel like this song could have been left to cook a little longer.
-
“Made For This S—t”
“Made For This S—t” feels more like a warm-up than a fully realized track. Gunna raps about how haters shouldn’t “play” with his name, but his laid-back cadence is so nonchalant it almost comes off as indifference, as if he wouldn’t mind if people tried him anyway. Thematically, the song doesn’t match the vibe Gunna brings, and confuses the listener, who should feel motivated by the track.
-
“What They Thinking”
Slow and uninspired, “What They Thinking” fails to break any new ground for Gunna. While he leans on the familiar flexing themes that helped solidify his stardom, the energy of the track feels stale, and lacks the vibrancy needed to make it come alive.
-
“GP”
Late-night escapades and sexual “ecstasy” consume “GP,” but Gunna sounds sleepy as he reminisces on these endeavors. Wunna weaves in and out of the beat with such a detached nonchalance, as if he’s just as bored as we are.
-
“Many Nights”
An introspective and moody opener, “Many Nights” opts for a more reflective stance. On the track, Gunna reminisces on the struggles he’s faced these past few years. “Life feel like a war, but Lord protectin’ my soul,” he raps. The song is soft and subdued, and announces Gunna’s arrival with a darker tone than past releases.
-
“Sakpase”
Gunna’s “Sakpase” showcases the rapper’s tight, rapid-fire flow, but the energy flatlines about halfway through. Wunna doesn’t sound excited to be engaging in the lavish lifestyle he lives, and offers solid motivational gems with a shoulder shrug.
-
“Just Say Dat”
Gunna again slips right back into the vibe that suits him best, tackling a icy-smooth Turbo beat that’s become his bread and butter. “Just Say Dat” comes and goes without much impact, checking all the boxes of a catchy Gunna song without leaving any of his usual earworm residuals.
-
“On Me”
On one of the sole moments of deep personal reflection on The Last Wun, Gunna explores the state of his career, and how he’s learned to tap into what really matters. “These losses startin’ to help me see what really matters/These drugs can’t even ever help me feel better/I feel better when I’m headlinin’ Coachella/ I’m livin’ out my dream and it ain’t all far fetched.” Hearing Gunna switch up his subject matter for something more substantial is a welcome vibe change.
-
“Prototype”
On “Protoype,” Wunna dances around some catchy melodies, which is a refreshing change of pace from the rapper’s earlier bar-heavy tracks. This is admittedly the first time Gunna sounds awake and alive on the album, and bodes well as listeners enter the meatiest part of The Last Wun.
-
“Club House”
Even though Gunna’s “Club House” offers up some flashy lines like, “Audemar frost what the car cost, my time can’t be bought/B—h skin glossed, her lights off, high expense when she walk/She put a Benz up, pull a Benz off,” the song feels unfinished and rushed. The hook doesn’t anchor the track as it needs to, leaving listeners feeling somewhat unfulfilled by the time it wraps up.
-
“CFWM”
Wunna sounds engaged as his Auto-Tuned flow skates in and out of “CFWM.” With only a few songs left before the album ends, it’s refreshing to hear Gunna step into a more energized arena with “CFWM’s” beat.
-
“Showed ‘Em”
The Atlanta rapper spits a few incendiary bars aimed at his critics on “Showed ‘Em,” and celebrates the spoils that come with having made it to the other side of his struggles. Other than that, this song doesn’t carry much weight thematically. It’ll likely satisfy Gunna’s day-one fans, but won’t win over any new converts.
-
“F—k Witcha Boy”
It’s nice to hear Gunna switch his flow up on “F—k Witcha Boy,” as the Atlanta rapper seems to be having a good time bouncing all over the song. “I’m pushing and lifting it up, I’m ’bout to cut up this summer/Told her I don’t want no rice when I eat Benihanas.” Good to know, Gunna!
-
“Him All Along”
While Gunna flexes his status as the one with the sauce on “Him All Along,” the track ends far too quickly to feel like a satisfying album closer. Though it offers some nice melodic moments fueled by Wunna’s polished voice, the song comes across as more of an afterthought, feeling like an unnecessary add-on to the project rather than a definitive conclusion.
-
“At My Purest” (Feat. Offset)
Gunna and Offset explore the spoils of fame on “At My Purest” with a splash of paranoia, as both rappers admit that the rock-star lifestyle might not be suited for everyone. “L.A. estate behind the gate, don’t let ‘em know my addy,” Gunna murmurs, encapsulating the tension between luxury and mistrust. However, Offset and Gunna don’t complement each other as well as they should. With Offset adopting Gunna’s flow instead of sticking to his own cadence, the chemistry between the duo doesn’t pop out of the song as much as it should. Their dynamic, as a result, struggles to shine, causing “At My Purest” to feel less impactful than it could have been.
-
“Satisfaction” (feat. Asake)
Asake feels disappointingly underutilized on “Satisfaction,” as his verse seems to come and go as wistfully as a gentle breeze. While Gunna sounds right at home over the song’s familiar slow-burn trap background, there’s no denying an Asake feature should have taken this track to exciting new heights.
-
“Endless”
Braggadocious and rambunctious, Gunna does his thing on “Endless” as he just spits facts about his lifestyle as a famous rapper. “Wunna the illest (Illest)/Money, I wanna print it (Money)/This s—t endless,” he raps in a way where I can picture him with a sly grin.
-
“Again”
Buoyancy is Gunna’s best friend on “Again,” as the rapper yearns for his love over some sleek piano chords and thumping 808s. His spitfire flow sounds invigorated as he bounces around “Again” with a bit more urgency than previous songs on the album. It’s nice to hear he can still have a good time when the circumstances are just right.
-
“WGFT” (Feat. Burna Boy)
While Burna Boy has delivered stronger verses in the past, the Afro-fusion star effortlessly outshines Gunna on “WGFT.” With his signature suave sophistication, Burna brings a refreshing energy to the track, though his verse feels disappointingly brief. Nonetheless, his contribution injects a much-needed dose of Afro flair, offering a dynamic and welcomed shift within Gunna’s sonic landscape.
-
“I Can’t Feel My Face” (Feat. Nechie)
Nechie and Gunna trade bars with ease on “I Can’t Feel My Face,” and feels almost like a torch is being passed to the former. Nechie feels a bit looser and more freeform on the beat than Gunna, offering his own distinct interpretation of the laid-back cadence that has become a hallmark of Atlanta rap.
-
“Rare Occasion”
“Rare Occasion” sees Gunna fully in his element, delivering his signature quippy cadence while rapping about the trappings of wealth and fame. True to its title, it’s a “rare occasion” to catch Gunna outside, but this track effortlessly captures that vibe we all know and love from the Atlanta rapper.
-
“Let That Sink In”
Gunna and Turbo hit the cruise control button with “Let That Sink In,” a smooth, relaxed track that hits all the correct points of a good Gunna song. Better songs await on the project, but “Let That Sink In” serves as a nice re-introduction to the vibe Gunna has mastered at this point in his career.
-
“Forever Be Mine” (Feat. Wizkid)
Gunna and Wizkid sound amazing together on “Forever Be Mine,” even if Wiz’s verse feels a little half-baked. The YSL signee brings Wizkid deep into his world, and forces him to adapt to the slow, moody trap energy that drives the track. Hearing Wiz step outside his comfort zone into Gunna’s atmospheric trap world is exciting, but Wiz disappears into the song’s fog, with Gunna still doing most of the legwork on the latter half.
-
“Won’t Stop”
The lead single off Gunna’s The Last Wun is far and away the best song on the album. Anchored by a catchy hook, flashy wordplay and a hard-hitting beat, it’s no surprise that Gunna is putting so much energy behind this track. With its infectious energy and polished execution, it’s clear why this song is getting the spotlight.
Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox
Sign Up