Irish alternative hip-hop just got a major jolt with 4 Years Later, the explosive collaborative album by scene veteran Tracy Grimm and Irish rising star bgboi. A fearless blend of emo rap, trap, plugg, and alternative hip-hop, this project doesn’t just blur genre lines—it obliterates them. For fans of boundary-pushing music, this album is a masterclass in experimental cohesion.
From the first track, it’s clear this is no cookie-cutter collab. Tracy’s voice cuts through like a blade—sharp, emotional, and distinct—while bgboi’s production refuses to play by the rules. Songs like “Ghost Mode” and “Bleach the Sky” showcase beats that warp and mutate mid-track, shifting the emotional tone and pulling listeners deeper into the artists’ world.
But this isn’t experimentation for the sake of being different. Every glitchy drum loop, distorted guitar, and synth-washed chorus serves the story. Tracy’s songwriting roots itself in emotional honesty, while bgboi’s production provides the chaos, color, and contrast. This creates a push-pull dynamic that keeps the album unpredictable—and completely immersive.
There are sonic nods to pioneers like Juice WRLD and Lil Peep, but 4 Years Later never feels derivative. Instead, it feels like the next evolution of that emotional sound, infused with Irish grit and Berlin-born darkness. On “Night Bus to Nowhere,” for example, gothic synths and woozy 808s create a moody backdrop for verses about anxiety, late-night isolation, and fleeting hope.
The project also benefits from its pacing. With track lengths that don’t overstay their welcome, 4 Years Later flows like a moodboard for Gen Z angst—perfect for headphone listening or 3 a.m. drives. The album feels meticulously curated but still raw, polished without losing its edge. It walks a fine line between underground and accessible, intimate and anthemic.
By refusing to stay in one lane, Tracy Grimm and bgboi have built something bigger than a genre project—they’ve built a sonic world. 4 Years Later isn’t just an album, it’s a blueprint for the future of alternative hip-hop, one where authenticity reigns and boundaries don’t exist.
Tracy Grimm: INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY
bgboi: INSTAGRAM | SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY
