As one of the standouts on February’s My Turn, the track showcased what Lil Baby would be capable of throughout the rest of the year. Part of the reason Lil Baby became so dominant in 2020 was because he could do it all: there was the calls for social justice on “The Bigger Picture,” the reveling in luxury on the 42 Dugg team-up “We Paid,” and then there was “Emotionally Scarred,” a deep dive into his pre-fame hardships told with stark descriptions and a range of emotion. Uzi was crazy for this one: previewing the most anticipated hip-hop release with a flip of Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way,” and having both the conviction and pop smarts to pull it off? “That Way” reminded us that there were few things off-limits in Lil Uzi Vert’s musical universe, as he somehow turned an undying boy band smash into a melodic rap anthem that’s hard not to hum along to.

It’s a feat in and of itself that they manage to keep it all sounding so fresh amid the torrid recording pace. On “War Paint,” Benny and Conway trade punches on powerhouse verses that brim with well-earned confidence (“I’m at the Roc Nation party smelling like chronic smoke/Hov said, ‘You that boy,’ I get acknowledged by the GOAT,” Conway raps), while Westside Gunn ties the Hit-Boy-produced gem together with a pace-shifting hook. And when the trio gets together - as they frequently do on one another’s albums - it’s often can’t-miss entertainment. Individually, all components of the three-headed monster that make up the Buffalo-born group Griselda had a big year. Conway the Machine & Westside Gunn, “War Paint”

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