YFN Lucci has returned to music after a four-year hiatus, releasing a deeply personal new single titled “Jan. 31st.” The track marks his first release since being indicted on RICO charges in 2021, and it finds the Atlanta rapper addressing legal battles, rumors, and the emotional toll of his time away.

On the raw and reflective record, Lucci speaks directly to the severity of his situation, rapping:

“Aye, they was tryna give me 200 years, they was tryna hide me / How you get 200 years without a body?”

Later in the song, he appears to respond to allegations that he pushed his friend, James Adams, out of a moving vehicle after Adams was fatally shot during a gang-related incident. Lucci raps, “Look, they say I threw my mans out? / When you on a move sometimes it don’t go how it planned out / You wouldn’t understand how a whole lot of trials and tribulations got me this far.”

In the second verse, he gets even more introspective, paying tribute to loved ones and reflecting on the emotional cost of his legal troubles. 

“Rest up ’cause your grandson made it this far / Aye, I’m just glad his last ride was the back of a ‘Bach / He was something like Cam Newton, had a whole lot of hats / The s*** I put my family through, I’m just glad to be back.”**

In a press release accompanying the single, Lucci described “Jan. 31st” as a raw and unfiltered reflection of his reality:

“This new single is just me — raw and in the moment, making music the only way I know how; straight from how I feel. The hook is a headline of my truth, down to the artwork. It says it all. We did a fly family shoot when I came home and those photos are visuals of my heartbeats. It had to be the artwork. It represents my love for my kids and how much I missed them. When you see me stepping back into the spotlight, you’re seeing what matters most standing right beside me. The business is locked in, the vault is ready to open, and I’m beyond ready to get back in motion and let the people hear me. The comeback is just the beginning.”

Source: Uproxx