There aren't many rappers that since 2010 have consistently released quality music in the form of both mixtapes and albums. Out of the new rappers in particular since 2010. Big K.R.I.T. is most certainly one of those few. He has yet to disappoint with any of his projects. Every mixtape and his debut album were all impressive projects. I can't say this about a lot of these other new artists. In this new era of rap where majority of mainstream southern hip hop is trap music, K.R.I.T. is bringing back that original sound of the south. That down home, soulful sound that has been long missed since the 90's. It's part of the reason why he has such a strong following of fans and why Def Jam threw him the contract. So because of all this, it's should be no surprise why this is such an anitcipated project. This is his sophomore album Cadillactica. As I mentioned, he has yet to disappoint with any of his previous projects. His debut, 2012's Live From The Underground, was easily one of my top five favorite albums from that year. It met my expectations and then some. So of course I would have even higher expectations this time around that this would be as good. Cadillactica wasn't just "as good", it was even better. With his debut, he was being more experimental. Basically testing the waters on how he could do with a major label release in comparison to his stellar mixtapes. This time he's got it. Everything from the production, the concepts, the lyrics and all just feel much more flawless and less experimental. Even the collaborations are better this time around. Like all of his projects, you get a heavy dose of sound influences from the likes of UGK, Outkast, Goodie Mob, Scarface and so many more southern legends. A lot of genre blending with jazz, blues and soulful R&B as well. Everything done here was done on his debut. But done much, much better. Here's the break down:
1. Kreation (intro)
He begins the album with a cool southern psychedelic sound. This totally takes me back to that 90's Outkast sound. I love how he does kind of a spoken word like flow on here too. The whole idea is that Cadillactica is another planet (which you hear more about in a skit later on). So this gives you a feeling that you're about to travel to another world. Couldn't have started this album off any better than that.
2. Life
Now on here he's traveling through space in search of this undiscovered planet of Cadillactica. In the lyrics he radios a message to his girl and everyone close to him on earth basically telling them he'll be okay and will return soon. You can literally vision everything he says in this song as he talks about dodging comets and asteroids and such. It's a dope way to carry on this concept.
3. My Sub Pt. 3 (Big Bang)
Ready for some bass? Here it is. Now of the three "My Sub" songs that he's done, this one is probably my least favorite. Now that doesn't mean I don't like it or it's bad. It's just the one I like the least of the three. Anyway, this is something K.R.I.T. is very good at. These trunk rattling deep bass songs like this. Perfect if you got "two 15's" in your trunk like the hook says. It's also at this point where he has found life on this planet (see previous song) and the is now created (hence the "big bang" in the song title). Dope song. Dope trunk music.
4. Cadillactica
Here we ave the first beat not done by K.R.I.T.. Instead it's done well by DJ Dahi. Now as I listen to the lyrics, I can't quite make out what's going on here. I'm not sure if he describing to us what life on Cadillactica is like, or if he's telling the people of Cadillactica what life on Earth is like (especially hearing that "I come in peace" line). I guess it just depends on how you listen to it. Either way, the song is awesome.
5. Soul Food (featuring Raphael Saadiq)
There probably wasn't a more smoother, more soulful feeling song on this album that this song. Specifically content wise as he raps about good down home southern cooking. Which no matter where your from, apart of us all loves some good southern food. I kinda think this was inspired by the classic Goodie Mob song of the same title but I'm not sure. I absolutely loved Raphael Saadiq on this hook. A soulful song like this needed a true soul singer and he was it. Awesome song.
6. Pay Attention (featuring Rico Love)
This is the first single and I honestly gotta admit it, I like it. Some of K.R.I.T.'s fans weren't quite happy with it because it's sounds way too mainstream and out of the norm from what he does. I don't feel that way. He took a mainstream sound that's popular today and added his old school southern flavor to it. It's cool. My only slight issue is Rico Love. He wasn't that bad but I could imagine plenty other singers doing a much better job with this hook. He sounded too much like Kirko Bangz or somebody. I mean I don't know if he always sounds like that I haven't heard much of his music. But yeah that's how it sounded. All in all it's a song for the ladies and it's done right. Something so many rappers struggle with. Great job here.
7. King Of The South
This song was the first to immediately grab my attention and became an instant favorite. Another loud southern trunk song with plenty of bass. What I love the most is his very aggressive and angry flow on here as if he trying to state his case why he is the king of the south. Now I know that might not sit to well with you T.I. fans. But I don't see it as K.R.I.T. possibly calling him out on that. We surely don't need that controversy right now. Even though plenty of K.R.I.T. fans will tell you an argument can be made. I'll just leave it at...this being a dope ass song.
8. Mind Control (featuring E-40 and Wiz Khalifa)
This song probably has the most addicting hook on the album. It was stuck in my head for a while. Even as I type this is replaying in my head. The production and just overall sound of this reminds me a bit of his song "Money On The Floor" from his last album. Now my issue with this...the guest features. Neither felt right for this song at all. E-40 felt so out of place on this track and it has nothing to do with how he raps or his flow. He does that on every song. But this sound wasn't him in my opinion. But he was no where near as bad as Wiz Khalifa. I can't find the adjectives to describe how terrible his verse was. Same old crap. "Weed this, weed that, I got this many bitches, my house is this size blah blah blah". It sounded so generic and lazy that you can tell it was a phoned in recording. Thank God for the beat and the dope hook. K.R.I.T. probably should have done this solo.
9. Stand By (interlude)
10. Do You Love Me (featuring Mara Hruby)
If you haven't noticed, K.R.I.T. loves talking about cars. Old school ones to be exact. Here he talks about his love for his car and how it loves him back. He talks about it as if the car is a person - a female - that he loves. I loved Mara Hruby on this hook. She sings on hook asking K.R.I.T. if he loves her. Playing the role of the car. She brought a real smooth, mellow R&B feel to this. To me It sounds like a 90's R&B hook. I was feeling it. Even K.R.I.T., who I have heard sing a little bit in the past, sings a full verse here which was totally unexpected. I mean he's no Luther Vandross but it wasn't bad. Loved this song overall.
11. Third Eye
I mentioned earlier how so many rappers struggle making songs for the girls. Well apparently, that's not the case for K.R.I.T.. Not only did he make one dope song for the ladies, he did it twice on one album. This one is much more calmer and relaxed. Here he talks about a woman that has caught his eye and that he is instantly lusting for. He's kinda talking to her the way a slick talking southern pimp would. But not so over the top. Great song.
12. Mo Better Cool (featuring Devin The Dude, Big Sant and Bun B)
By far the dopest collaboration on the whole album. First off the production was excellent. The drums and snares on this sounded so crisp and clean. Loved it. All the MC's kicked verses reminiscing about their come up in the game. I loved all the verses especially Big Sant's who brought a ton of energy to this. Devin The Dude brought that pimp-like swagger to the hook and sounded great. This just makes you want to hop in an old school whip a ride ten miles an hour through the hood bumping this. Great song that lives up to it's title...cool.
13. Angels
With so many songs on this about that I love, this is the one song that I'm still on the fence about. Now I love the message. He talking about the struggles currently in Mississippi as well as other poverty stricken places in the south. Mentioning things like devastating weather destroying cities, drug abusers, violence and the deaths caused by it all. This is where I start to compare him to David Banner when he gets to theses serious topics. But I don't know. It's not that the overall sound is bad, it's just kind of weak compared to the rest of these albums. It breaks the mood as well. I'm sure it will grow on me more down the road.
14. Saturdays = Celebrations (featuring Jamie N. Commons)
Here's another song with a very serious message. He talks about what would happen in the event of him passing on. Telling everyone not to mourn or cry but to celebrate because God brought him home for good reason. What I loved the most is the hook. Jamie N. Commons sounded excellent on this hook and gave it so much emotion. So much kudos needs to go to these featured singers on this album that did so good with these hooks. But anyway I enjoyed this a lot. Excellent.
15. Lost Generation (featuring Lupe Fiasco)
It's now at this part of the album where apparently K.R.I.T. has left the planet and heading back home to Earth. On this song he's kicking some knowledge to the troubled youth of today (I guess what he learned while away on Cadillactica). Telling them how they are influenced by all the wrong things and need to get their head on straight and go down a better path that will get you somewhere in life. Lupe goes more in deep with this concept on his verse. He raps as one of the troubled kids and how they most likely would respond to everything K.R.I.T. is telling them. With so many good hooks on this album, this was the only one I wasn't really feeling as much. But it's cool because the song and message were both cool and I still enjoyed it.
In closing, this album exceeded way past my expectations. Cadillactica just further proves Big K.R.I.T.'s intelligence, creativity and artistic ability to put together this kind of sound and concept. This dude is in a lane of his own. I give this a final grade of a A-. Simply put...the south needs Big K.R.I.T. in the worst way. His songs are not songs but visuals in your head. I said in a previous review that his music defines what southern hip hop should be. Full of soul, full of life, full of love. This is missing in hip hop today. I don't know about "king of the south" but a this rate, that's a title he could definitely wear in the future. End.
Final Grade: A-
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CREDITS
Executive Producers
Justin Scott
Jonny Shipes
Sheldon John
Lead Artist
Justin Scott
Production
Justin Scott
Dacoury Natche
Khalil Abdul-Rahman
James Scheffer
Michael Mule
Isaac Deboni
Richard Butler, Jr.
Terrace Martin
Alexander Grant
Collaboration
Raphael Saadiq
Richard Butler, Jr.
Earl Stevens
Cameron Thomaz
Mara Hruby
Devin Copeland
Santiago Gathright
Bernard Freeman
Jamie Commons
Wasalu Jaco
Darold Ferguson, Jr.
Label
Cinematic Music Group/Def Jam Recordings
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-Mic Navarro
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