Album Review: Gunna – One of Wun
“While Gunna aims to deliver a standout record, he fails to produce a memorable and cohesive body of work. Most of these songs lack the depth and introspection necessary for replay value and radio appeal.”
Gunna's fifth LP, One of Wun, marks a lackluster and somnolent approach. The album mirrors his previous works, with many tracks sounding familiar; however, this time they appear more polished. Unfortunately, some songs feel soulless and uninspired, resembling filler tracks. Tracks like "treesh" and "on one night" could have been omitted without loss. The album would have benefited from a more concise tracklist, ideally reduced to 14 or 16 songs. Its current 20 tracks, spanning 57 minutes, is excessive. While Gunna aims to deliver a standout record, he fails to produce a memorable and cohesive body of work. Most of these songs lack the depth and introspection necessary for replay value and radio appeal. Many tracks come across as lazily written, giving the impression that Gunna is more concerned with the money and fame than the music itself. Despite the album's promotion on social media, which initially piqued my interest, One of Wun ultimately falls short of its promise.
To suggest that One of Wun could be the album of the year is a gross overestimate and an impossibility. While most trap artists of Gunna's caliber deliver exceptional work, he merely recycles his past songs, revealing a lack of innovation and true artistry needed to create a timeless record. As I write this review, I'm on the 16th track and I can't believe how quickly the album passed by. There are no memorable moments, catchy beats, or outstanding tracks. This feels like time wasted; if you're reading this, spare yourself and check out the visuals instead. Even the features fail to salvage the listening experience. Normani's appearance on "$$$" is forgettable and dull. Offset's feature on "prada dem" was disappointing, falling short of my high expectations. The remaining features, including Leon Bridges and Roddy Ricch, do not add enough to elevate the album or enhance its streaming success.
Gunna had both the opportunity and the resources to craft an album with profound resonance and global appeal, yet he squandered this potential through repetitive lyrics and a lack of direction and oversight. Despite it being 2024, the album sounds indistinguishable from any other trap release from 2019. Gunna's complacency will inevitably catch up with him if he does not aim higher. I hope he takes an extended hiatus to focus on his new clothing brand 'P' and lets his life experiences shape the sound of his next album.
One of Wun falters significantly in cohesiveness and memorability. Despite the bettered production and sequencing, the album lacks depth in introspection and songwriting. It will likely resonate only with listeners who appreciate Gunna's persona regardless of the musical quality.
Outstanding Track: "today i did good"
Album Score: 4/10
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