K-the-I??? Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
It’s unusual for an album title to accurately describe its songs, but the past, present, […]
It’s unusual for an album title to accurately describe its songs, but the past, present, and future of hip-hop is exactly what you’ll get on K-the-I???’s sophomore release. The Massachusetts native raps Public Enemy-style about his recent move to the West Coast and various romances gone wrong, all propelled by pulsing beats and heavy booms. K-the-I???’s commanding lyrics are bolstered by Thavius Beck’s gritty production and appearances by Busdriver, Subtitle, and Anti-Pop Consortium’s High Priest. At times, the production shines with electro-dance tendencies (“Cell Shaded/Daydreams/Nightmares” and “Man or Machine”), although it occasionally strays into some tired late-’90s R&B territory (“Just Listen”). Nonetheless, K-the-I??? has a bright future ahead.