Throughout 2025, my experience with mainstream rap music has been incredibly lackluster. From the bloated, unpolished Playboi Carti album, “MUSIC,” to the uninspired JACKBOYS project “JACKBOYS 2,” there have been many disappointments.
However, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it expanded my musical taste to lesser-known rap artists, like Westside Gunn.
There is no better example of a meticulously crafted and well-executed album than “HEELS HAVE EYES 2,” by Westside Gunn, which blends hard-hitting boom-bap instrumentals with witty vocals to deliver a unique experience.
As the title suggests, this album is a sequel to Westside Gunn’s previous five-song EP, “HEELS HAVE EYES,” that was also released in 2025. Many characteristics are shared between both projects, but are expanded and improved on in “HEELS HAVE EYES 2” during the longer, 12-song runtime.
One glaring similarity that is improved on in this album is the very animated flows and vocal intonations that Westside Gunn uses to funnel energy into less complex instrumentals, a hallmark of his style. His extremely expressive tone makes me hang on to every word he says, leading to higher immersion within each track.
This vocal tone extends toward Westside Gunn’s unique ad-libs that often mimic gunshots or other strange sounds. These eccentric ad-libs kept me on my toes, adding to the unpredictable charm that comes with this album.
In Westside Gunn’s previous catalogue, the production always seemed to turn me off, whether it was unnecessary percussion or the beats just being too minimal. However, this album elevates his previous works, with more hard-hitting, emotion-invoking instrumentals.
“HEELS HAVE EYES 2” features some of the best production I have heard on a Westside Gunn project. For example, the nostalgic beat from legendary producer Conductor Williams on “MANDELA,” featuring an entrancing soul sample, complements Westside Gunn’s unorthodox vocals perfectly.
Similarly, the extremely abrasive drums on the first full track, “HEEL CENA,” make for an explosive start to the album.
Overall, this album is a large improvement compared to Westside Gunn’s previous work, but it lacks engaging features.
Most of the feature artists, with the exception of Benny the Butcher on “POWER HOUSE HOBBS,” go in one ear and out the other due to their generic lyrics and flow. This is disappointing, considering how infectiously animated Westside Gunn is on all of these tracks.
Despite the minimal guest appearances on “HEELS HAVE EYES 2”, the album is still one of the best released this year and deserves more credit within the rap community.
As mainstream rap music stagnates to watered-down and apathetic work, it is time for listeners to look below the surface. Artists like Westside Gunn do not just create music for commercial gain. Instead, they truly pour out their souls through artistry, something sorely missing from the mainstream.
