Fact: Today, the south is hip hop's most dominate region and has been for at least the last decade. Some of hip hop's biggest names in mainstream all hail from below the Mason Dixon. But because southern rap today is mostly known for radio/party/club music, it's really hard to point out the top tier MC's of the south on a more lyrical level. Recently a lot of southern new comers have emerged and become apart of that tier. Example: Big K.R.I.T. Once I listened to his 2011 mixtape Return Of 4Eva, I was extremely impressed and was immediately hooked. That would be followed by his two 2012 releases in the mixtape 4Eva N A Day and his debut studio album Live From The Underground. Both of which I enjoyed. In short, K.R.I.T. has yet to disappoint me with a mixtape/album and it continues here with King Remembered In Time. I thoroughly enjoyed this mixtape. Just like on 4Eva N A Day he shows his creative originality and gives us another themed and/or concept project with the "king" and "royalty" theme. Which is presented on a couple of tracks. In the production department, K.R.I.T. once again doesn't disappoint as he continues with his soulful and jazz influenced production with a little bit of that southern trunk music flavor. Showing that he's just as talented of a producer as he is a MC. Since I have way more positives than negatives to say about this I'll start there. I had so many favorite songs on this tape that it's hard for me to like one more than the others. I absolutely loved the bass in "Talkin' Bout Nothing". He spit some fast dope lyrics over deep and heavy vibrating bass. Prefect trunk music. Speaking of, "My Trunk" is another bass bumper that many would love to blast in the car. Even though Trinidad James verse was weak it wasn't enough to ruin the song. "King Without A Crown" is one of those that I mentioned that sticks to the theme. Another favorite of mine. "Shine On" with Bun B and "How U Love That" were two more dope trunk bangers. But I'ma step away from the trunk bangers and get to the songs with meaning. "WTF" totally caught me off guard. Looking at the title I thought this song would be about something completely left field from what K.R.I.T. normally raps about, but on here he raps about the life struggle in Mississippi and flows in a poetic style. Like those poets that do stage poetry. Done over a cool, relaxed, violin filled bass-less beat (until the hook). The song features a decent collabo from BJ The Chicago Kid. Great song. "Banana Clip Theory" he speaks on why he feels it's necessary for him to posses a weapon. This may be in response to the whole gun control situation that the country is going through right now. Either way it was great. "Life Is A Gamble" is pretty much self explanatory looking at the title. The ups and downs and dangers you'll come across in life. The last two tracks "Bigger Picture" and "Multi Til The Sun Die" are other examples of these meaningful songs that K.R.I.T. knows how to make so well. An area of weakness for most southern rappers. I only have a few negatives about the tape. "Good 2Getha" I wasn't feeling like that. If there's one weakness K.R.I.T. has is songs for the women, which really isn't bad because plenty of rappers have this problem. There's an interlude or a snippet on here called "Just Last Week" which features Future that left me scratching my head. It sounded good by why just a snippet? I didn't like that. Even Future was tolerable on this. Maybe the full song will be on one of his future projects. I hope. "Only One" features Wiz Khalifa and Smoke DZA and this is one I'm on the fence about. After my first listen I thought it was okay then after a second time I lost interest. I don't really know what it is but I guess it will have to grow on me. Well in conclusion, this was yet again another dope project from Big K.R.I.T. I give it a final grade of a B. In my opinion. Big K.R.I.T. embodies and defines everything that southern hip hop is, or should be. As long as he continues to release great mixtapes/albums like this then I can't ever see myself getting off the band wagon. He'll only get better as the years go on. Hopefully, this could be the turning point for a new sound in the south. I'll cross my fingers. End.
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