In case you've been under a rock since the turn of the new year Baton Rouge's own Kevin Gates drops another solid mixtape for us to rock to. He's recently gained attention from the the the hiphop audience with his last mixtape,"The Luca Brasi Story" that gained respectable reviews and exceeding 60,000 downloads (datpiff). He's arguably the hottest rapper from Louisiana since Lil Boosie, and there has been a bidding battle to sign him between Young Money and Atlantic Records with Atlantic edging out the competitors. He's been quoted of saying many different generes have had an influence on his music including listening to country, soft rock, reggaeton, and even punk rock. After serving time for possession of a firearm and drugs with prior felony convictions Kevin Gates picked the rap game up right where he left it and has big plans to be the first platinum artist out of Baton Rouge.
It's refreshing to hear someones uncut story stacked like legos articulately on top of heavy hitting 808 beats, and feel nothing but honesty through your speakers. Kevin Gates gives the kind of honesty through his music that you probably only share with the person you face in the mirror in a clandestine room with a locked door. With his raspy voice accompanied by his thick southern slang fits perfectly with the heavy drum patterns and looping melodies on the album. He shows just how versatile his style is with the merit most songs hold from his story telling to his fluent flow and delivery. He's quickly making a name for himself in the rap game holding down the boot state. His flow distinctly identifiable, but to paint a better picture he reminds me of his own version of Gorilla Zoe or the great Zero from Texas. No doubt he has talent and rarely exercises overly repetitive choruses and sparingly uses childish lullabies for an annoyingly amount of time. Nahhhhh...... Not Kevin Gates. This is the kind of music that you throw on in the morning while you do your daily routine and play at all kinds of type of obnoxious levels. This is the kind of music that you can let ride and look at your partner sideways if they dare put their finger on that next button. The only track that had a downside for me was "Patrick Swazy," which had an excessively tiresome simple chorus, but even with that lack of substance downer of a hook, he still makes up for in the word play of the verses. I expect that this mixtape will demand the attention of many listeners and shed light back on Louisiana rappers as artists.
With that being said on to the Ratings.
Flow: 4/5 His flow is distinct and brings something new and not just another recycled one we've been accustomed to hearing.
Lyrical Content: 3.5/5 This is probably the hardest to judge because he isn't a trap rapper, but wouldn't consider him strictly a conscious rapper either. Whatever you want to label him he does it well.
Consistency: 4/5 Yes, if your looking for consistency hear it is. Straight forward story telling from a first hand experience. The final couple tracks seem to go in a different direction though.
Subject: 3/5 The subject matter will get the lowest score because it doesn't open me up to anything new but his side of the story. Don't let that take away from mixtape though because for the theme of the album he hits the hammer on the head.
Beat/Music: 4/5 Maaannnn each track rides and helps bring out the most of the lyrics please show the tape the respect it deserves and play with the proper headphones or speakers that allow the bass to bang.
Score: 18.5/25
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