Honestly, if you look back at the summer of 2019, the rap landscape was shifting in a way most of us didn't fully grasp yet. Lil Durk was in a weird spot. He wasn't the global superstar he is today, and he was actually dealing with some heavy legal issues in Atlanta that had people wondering if his career was about to hit a brick wall. Then he dropped Love Songs 4 the Streets 2. It wasn't just another project; it was the moment Durkio officially figured out how to balance that gritty, "no auto" drill sound with the melodic, emotional crooning that eventually made him "The Voice."
Most people forget that this album was his first real top-five hit on the Billboard 200. It debuted at number four. For a guy who had just parted ways with Def Jam a year or so prior, that was a massive statement. It proved that he didn't need a massive corporate machine to win; he just needed to talk to the trenches.
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The Dual Identity of Love Songs 4 the Streets 2
There’s this constant tug-of-war in Durk's music. You've got the side that wants to talk about India Royale and the quiet life at home, and then you've got the side that’s still deeply entrenched in the Chicago South Side reality. This album captures that better than almost anything else in his discography.
Take a track like "Green Light." It’s pure energy. No melody, no fluff—just raw rapping that reminds you why he's a pioneer of the drill scene. But then you flip to "Prada You" or "Extravagant" with Nicki Minaj, and it’s a completely different vibe. It’s "mushy" as some critics called it at the time, but it worked.
The guest list was also perfectly curated for that specific era. You had:
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- King Von on "Like That" (back when their chemistry was just starting to take over the streets).
- 21 Savage bringing that dark, clinical flow to "Die Slow."
- Nicki Minaj adding some heavy mainstream weight on "Extravagant."
- Meek Mill and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie rounding out the melodic side.
It felt like a coronation. He was finally sitting at the table with the big names, and he wasn't just a guest—he was the host.
Why the Production Hit Different
The beats on this thing were handled by the heavy hitters of the late 2010s. We're talking Chopsquad DJ, DY from 808 Mafia, and Jahlil Beats. They managed to create a soundscape that felt cinematic but still dirty enough for a car ride through Englewood.
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One of the standouts that people still talk about is "Bora Bora." The tempo on that track is just... effortless. Durk sort of glides over it. It’s a song about escaping the madness, which is ironic considering the legal cloud he was under while recording it. He was facing serious charges, including attempted murder, yet he was making music that sounded like a victory lap. That’s the Durkio paradox.
Real Talk: The Criticism and the Impact
Was it perfect? Kinda, but not really. Some critics at Pitchfork and HipHopDX pointed out that 16 tracks felt a bit long, and some of the "love" songs felt a little forced compared to the street anthems. There’s a valid argument there. When Durk tries too hard to be a pop star, he can lose that edge that makes him special.
But look at the numbers now. By early 2025, Love Songs 4 the Streets 2 had racked up a ton of RIAA certifications as part of Durk's massive 53-certification sweep. It’s stayed in the rotation for years. It isn't just a "time and place" album; it’s the blueprint for how he navigated the next five years of his career.
Key Takeaways from the LS4TS2 Era:
- Versatility is survival. If he had stayed just a drill rapper, he might have faded out like many of his peers. The "love songs" were his ticket to the mainstream.
- Loyalty sells. The inclusion of King Von wasn't just a business move; it was OTF branding at its finest.
- The "No Auto" balance. He learned that he could give the fans both versions of himself on one project without it feeling like two different albums.
What You Should Do Next
If you haven't listened to the project in a while, or if you only know Durk from his recent stuff like 7220 or Almost Healed, you need to go back and spin the title track, "Love Songs 4 the Streets." It samples Lionel Richie, of all people. It’s Durk at his most vulnerable, talking about the ones who doubted him while he was "putting Chicago on his shoulders."
Go listen to "Locked Up" specifically. It’s one of the most honest looks at the legal system and the "cliches" of drill music that are actually just harsh realities for guys in his position. It gives you a much better perspective on why he makes the music he makes today.
Stream the full 47-minute project on Spotify or Apple Music to see the exact moment the "The Voice" was born. Pay close attention to the transition between "Green Light" and "Die Slow"—that’s where the real grit of this album lives.