Multi-talented Swedish rapper Yung Lean has released his first single and announced his first solo album since cutting ties with the multidisciplinary independent Stockholm-based label Year0001. “Forever Yung” is the new track, produced and co-written by Rami Dawod, who has collaborated with artists including Frank Ocean, Camila Cabello, Dua Lipa, and more.
“Forever Yung” is the first solo material released under Lean’s own label, World Affairs, after coming out with the Bladee collaboration album Psykos in 2024. Sonically, the new single is more closely aligned with what we heard on Psykos as well as Lean’s acoustic disposed side project jonatanleandoer96.
It features the signature off-melodic vocals and seemingly off-beat flow, which has Lean prioritizing and working around lyrics rather than maintaining steady synchronicity around the beat. The result is a unique cadence that doesn’t coincide with the majority of rap music; rather, it pushes into other genres and creates a sound that’s singular to Lean. The flow is similar to improvisational jazz techniques, seemingly trailing so far from the beat for bars and bars, but with stress always landing where it needs to.
Lyrically, “Forever Yung” tells the story of a relationship between Lean and a close friend or lover. There are repeated mentions of repentance and self-revelation with lines such as, “Girl inside that mask of yours / Just take it off and let it show.” Overcoming this increasing dissociation with the world and himself, Lean says “And you see me rise out the ashes and / Like a phoenix I will come up and rise,” imploring the person he’s in conversation with to do the same.
“Forever Yung” is accompanied by a beautiful video directed by Aidan Zamiri and shot on Frame 24 film. The new album, Jonatan, is set for release on May 2nd, with art direction by Ecco2k.
Watch the “Forever Yung” video and keep up with Yung Lean below.
