(haven't heard the new album yet)
Dude fails on two levels IMO.
1. He makes bland retro music. Motown had arguably the greatest collection songwriters of the modern era working under one roof, pumping out amazing music. Amazing drums/break beats, beautiful strings, powerful horn sections...they literally had everything on lock. Meanwhile Younge's take on Motown basically revolves around boring ass keys, weak drums, and maybe some strings here or there. It just sounds unimaginative and like a very poor carbon copy. Have you guys heard his Delfonics album?
Very repetitive shit that isn't soulful at all. He tends to have a psychedelic sound instead of any soul or funk...but honestly he doesn't even do that interestingly.
2. You can't have bland live instrumentation in rap. You have to give a rapper something to rock over. He creates brooding, overly long compositions that have no soul, funk, no nothing. Again...bland shit. Even Supreme Clientele era Ghostface couldn't make that shit sound interesting...there are no pockets for a rapper.
Live instrumentation can work, obviously
But it has to be something that gives things moving. I can't think of a single Younge track that would sound dope live at a show. Think about that...