Larry June, 2 Chainz and The Alchemist have made a record that sounds exactly like its title. Life Is Beautiful is an album about ease, comfort and the quiet pleasures of success. It pairs June’s laid-back approach with 2 Chainz’s flamboyant energy over dreamy, hazy beats from The Alchemist. The idea is simple: let two very different voices sit together on the same track. Whether it works depends on which track you’re hearing.
Opening With Munyon Canyon
The record starts with Munyon Canyon, a track that sets the tone immediately. It’s warm, unhurried and built for a car drive rather than a club. Colossal follows, and it’s the strongest early statement — the beat is bigger than the title suggests, and June’s delivery feels relaxed rather than rushed. I Been is the best track on the record. It’s short, direct and memorable, the kind of song that sticks in the ear after one listen. LLC is similarly sharp, with a hook that lands harder than the album’s more abstract moments.
Bad Choices And Life Is Beautiful
Bad Choices is another strong entry. It’s a track that rewards repeat listens, building slowly into something fuller than its title promises. Life Is Beautiful itself is the album’s centerpiece, a track that tries to capture the whole project in a single song. It doesn’t quite succeed — the idea is bigger than the execution — but it’s the most ambitious moment here. Generation runs longer than the album’s other tracks, and it’s the one place where the record slows down to stretch out. It’s not a failure, but it’s the point where the album’s momentum dips slightly.
Any Day, Tru Organics And Jean Prouvé
Any Day is pleasant but slight, a track that works better as background music than as a main event. Epiphany is similar — it’s a solid track, but it doesn’t leave much of an impression. Tru Organics picks the pace back up, with a beat that’s sharper than the middle stretch allowed. Jean Prouvé closes the record on a high note, a track that feels like a small victory after the weaker middle material.
What Works And What Doesn’t
The album’s strengths are its hooks and its pacing. I Been, Colossal, LLC and Bad Choices are the four tracks that justify the record’s existence. The Alchemist’s production is consistently strong throughout, even when the lyrics drift. The weaknesses are the album’s midsection, where Generation, Any Day and Epiphany drag the record down.
2 Chainz is the standout performer, even when his delivery is turned down. His animated energy cuts through the haze in a way that June’s more laid-back approach can’t match. The comparison to The Great Escape, the 2023 link-up between June and The Alchemist, holds up — both records try to join two very different styles together.
| Track | Role |
|---|---|
| I Been | Best track |
| LLC | Strong hook |
| Bad Choices | Strong hook |
| Life Is Beautiful | Centerpiece |
Here’s what the album gets right:
- I Been — the best track, short and direct
- Colossal — the strongest early statement
- LLC — sharp hook, harder than the abstract moments
- Bad Choices — builds slowly into something fuller
Here’s what drags it down:
- Generation — the longest track, where momentum dips
- Any Day — pleasant but slight, better as background
- Epiphany — solid but forgettable
Verdict On Life Is Beautiful
Life Is Beautiful is a record that knows what it wants to be. It’s an easy-listening exercise, built for comfort rather than drama. The hooks land, the beats hold up, and the two lead voices find ways to coexist even when they don’t fully connect. It’s not a great album, but it’s a good one, and its best tracks are genuinely excellent.
- Munyon Canyon3:43
- Colossal3:16
- I Been2:34
- LLC3:18
- Bad Choices3:02
- Life Is Beautiful3:06
- Generation4:16
- Any Day3:04
- Epiphany3:45
- Tru Organics2:58
- Jean Prouvé3:51
