Pain & Love 2 is Fivio Foreign’s first project since his life completely changed. After a guest appearance on Kanye West’s 2021 album Donda introduced him to a wider audience, he broke through to rap superstardom with his 2022 LP B.I.B.L.E.. His 2024 mixtape is both a taste of his ever-evolving sound and a continuation of Pain and Love, an EP from 2019. On the sequel, Fivio celebrates his wins atop drill beats delivered from his hometown of New York. With features from Sheff G, Lil Tjay, Swae Lee, and more, the project is Fivio’s proof that his rise to the top was more than a fluke. On the opening cut, “Who Knew,” Fivio raps, “Who knew if I mixed these words with the music, it’d make me a millionaire?” The highs are numerous, but Fivio still remembers the struggles it took to get here. On the Tjay-assisted “Trauma,” Fivio spits, “And I don’t even know who fault it is/But I climbed too far to go and fall to this.” The wins feel good, but Fivio Foreign is acutely aware of what a slippery slope fame can be. On Pain & Love 2, the MC is proud of his accomplishments but knows how much work it takes to maintain success.