Stanisland Magazine

2 Chainz and The Alchemist also exhibit grit on sensational new hip-hop song.

The year is exploding with news for hip-hop, though this tree of works is yet to bear fruits. However, that changed this week with the release of some interesting new music.

The Alchemist (Alan Maman) has been a busy boy in 2025. He’s generated significant buzz for his upcoming collaborative album with Yasiin Bey, and today he dropped a new single, Bad Choices with recurrent collaborator Larry June (Leonard Eugene “Larry” Hendricks III) and 2 Chainz (Tauheed K. Epps).

What is it About?

It explores the labyrinthine outcomes of selective decision-making and the cheer and troubles one can gain from them. This is noted by Epps in both the chorus and his verse, “See if your blood pressure too high from eating all that DoorDash” and “I’m self-made, made too influenced, I turn your castle into a ruin.” This is equally compounded by the two’s charismatic and nonchalant musical personalities.

What it Sounds Like

Uncle Larry’s flow, a calm demeanour, is matched by an equally adjusted Epps where the two glide over a fresh bout of Alchemist quarried beats. Featuring score-like string samples over plucking strums of bass, there is a narrative of introspection, sonically platformed by a sense of urgency. With West Coast ingredients thrown in, there’s an impressive concoction of explosive rap combining for a well-balanced timbre.

Maman’s intricate use of lilted samples is once again impressive. Despite our past criticisms of his most recent music, he undoubtedly creates art within the scope of supporting the endeavours of artistic rhyme. He is the go-to man right now, and when combining such feats with the decorative expressions of June, it’s a song of considerable outcome: “Lunch in Big Sur, magnesium wheels on the Porsche, Made a couple extra, sold a half a bird with the moisture, Tryna dodge the blue and yellow jacket in them Ford Taurus.”

2 Chainz also begins with a decent effort, though the verse falls short compared to the dispatches of Hendricks; thought, his instalment enhances June’s bars as he lays out his trademark flow.

The Music Video

Once again, Maman has his artists driving through the city streets against the backdrop of his music, flossing and brandishing their showy material items. It’s not exactly a masterpiece, but recent visuals tied to his projects have been the same. So, this low-par video is expected, as are most moving images of late within the hip-hop scene. The fast-pace of a changed industry has affected all elements of the game.

Verdict

It’s a great introduction to both the producer’s New Year projects and, equally, Larry June‘s desire to accelerate his consistency. 2 Chainz returns from a year without an album, but if there’s a gap, hopefully something of quality will come too. The three jostle well on this track, almost almagating styles to the point they’re inseparable.

Where to Stream

You can listen to Bad Choices on Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal.