The Chicago pain rapper digs through years of trauma. Yungeen Ace has always been a diaristic and vulnerable MC, but he’s more transparent about the highs and lows of a career in rap than ever before on 2026’s Pain & War Is Art. He uses every moment of the album to mine these feelings. “Looking Back” finds him continually questioning why all the wins still feel like losses, eloquently examining the hollow feeling he gets despite the plaques and accolades. “I’m at war with my thoughts,” he raps, before adding, “We so up on the score, but why it still feel like we lost?” Despite the gray clouds, there are plenty of moments of sunshine, too, like on the touching “Call on Me,” during which Ace pays tribute to unflinching friendship. Over a pitched vocal sample and contemplative piano chords, he raps, “If you my brother, then I got you forever/Fuck the storm, I’m going through with you together.” Our Favorite Moment: When Ace allows himself a moment to flex on “Fascinated Lifestyle.”