NEW YORK — NEW YORK (AP) — “It’s mogul season,” beams You Dolla $ign declares.
This is true. Inventive R&Singer B just released his fifth studio album, his first full-length solo release in five years. He chose “Tycoon” as the title because the word reflected his current state of mind. “It’s like being at the top of your career,” he says. “It’s like, not only have I done everything you could do in art, but there’s still a lot more to do.”
Call it confidence, swagger, or showing off. Grammy nominated artist he has many multi-platinum records to his credit from 2018 to the present, and recently his controversial project with Kanye West, $, released two albums, “Vultures 1” and “Vultures 2” in 2024. They debuted at numbers 1 and 2 on the Billboard 200, respectively.
“Tycoon” is classic Ty Dolla $ign. The album is what he made his name for: a collection of consistently catchy NSFW R songs.&B's anthems are about lust and love (both mostly about debauchery), complemented by top collaborations: Quavo,Juicy Jay 2 Chainz, Tyga, Travis Scott, Khloe – the list goes on.
Also among them: Rappers Kodak Black and Ty Doll's longtime soulmate $ign YG. (Ty Dolla $ign and YG have been working together for several years, dating back to 2010's “Toot It.” & Boot It.”) For his latest album, the trio teamed up to record “SMILE BODY PRETTY FACE.” It was one of the last songs written on “Tycoon,” says Ty Dolla $ign, “But when we started messing with the beat. I thought, “This must be YG.”
The song has a romantic element – with some overtly sexual poses. The same can be said for Tycoon's lead single, “All In,” where rich baritone Ty Dolla $ign credits devotion to a partner. “They say love doesn’t cost anything,” he swoons on the chorus. “And if that were the case, I would go all in.”
“I always like something,” he says. “I haven’t got it all figured out yet.” As such, love remains a constant source of inspiration, enriched by a sample of Wayne Wonder's 2002 reggae-fusion song “No Letting Go.”
For Ty Doll $ign, this new era also means being a business mogul. He took on his share of ventures in the industry, such as launching the EZMNY label with Motown Records executive Sean Barron, and achieved immediate success with his first signing. R&Upstart Leon Thomas. His single “Mutt” hit #11 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on Hot R.&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart.
Thomas told AP earlier this year on working with Ty Dolla $ign: “I've been around some epic legends in this field, and I feel like the best teacher is experience.”
“My goal with EZMNY is to give real artists a chance. Personally, I didn't do that until I was 27 and I've always done well. I've always been making music,” says Ty Dolla $ign. “And I just wanted to reach out to the people who are really great.”
“There will definitely be return to R&B very soon,” he adds. “We’re talking specifically about Leon.”
As for what else the future holds, it remains to be seen whether the oft-rumored Vultures 3 will happen. “A lot of music was written. She could have come out at that time,” argues Ty Dolla Sign. “I feel like we made the best music there was at the time. I feel like we came out on top and it was a successful project and it was fun… It was a cool experience to see that you can just do everything in your free time.”
Will the duo be able to reunite? “Who knows what might happen in the future?” he says. “I'm open to everything.”
For now, “it’s Tycoon time,” he says. Ty Dolla $ign will soon be touring in support of the album. Later, 10 years after his debut album “Free TC”, his new documentary entitled “Still Free TC” will receive wider release. The premiere took place in Tribeca Film Festival this year.
“Still Free TC” is about his brother Big TC, who is currently serving a life sentence for murder – which the singer says is illegal. But it also tells the story of Ty Dolla $ain in great detail. It's about his rise to the top and the system of mass incarceration that still affects his family.
“I’ve had a lot of friends and fans tell me things like, ‘Yeah, you never really show anyone off. You never let anyone in.” So, this is the time where I let everyone in,” he says of the film. “I just feel like people need to see it.”
In the meantime, they have to dive into Tycoon.
“I just want people to feel inspired after they hear it. I want them to believe in themselves after they hear it,” he says. “And believe in me. I will always give you the best of the best.”
