Is Lil Uzi Vert's retirement just a publicity stunt?

Yesterday, Lil Uzi Vert shared a nostalgic Instagram story. “Wish I still could go to the studio,” the rapper’s caption read, the words appearing atop a photo of the “XO Tour Llif3″ hitmaker and a presumed collaborator. “Just reminiscing.”

It seemed to wistfully underscore Uzi’s recent announcement that he’s retiring from music and reportedly deleting all his songs. But is the so-called retirement of Lil Uzi Vert merely a promotional tactic for his upcoming album?

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That’s the case made today by Complex, writer Trace William Cowen noting a parallel between Uzi’s professed retreat from music and the perplexing public displays of purportedly promotional flair from actor Shia LaBeouf.

[Screenshot: Instagram
But will we ever hear Lil Uzi Vert’s anticipated second album, Eternal Atake, the Rugrats-influenced rapper‘s follow-up to 2017’s Luv Is Rage 2 that supposedly got shelved when he first revealed he was backing away from the game?

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Adding another twist to this tale is Uzi’s recent reply to an onlooker. In the below Instagram video—showing the musician at a basketball game with fellow rapper Meek Mill—he’s urged to “come back” to music. His reply? “I can’t.”

Why can’t Uzi come back to music? Is something holding him back? Maybe the rapper that gets props from Marilyn Manson really is on his way out. Or maybe not. Either way, we just want a Lil Uzi Vert U.S. tour with Lorna Shore.

What do you think about Lil Uzi Vert’s retirement from music? Do you think it might be a publicity stunt for the hopeful release of Eternal Atake? Sound off down in the comments section with your thoughts on the matter!

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