The Trinidad and Tobago native serves the underground with his new album: Stillborn Lives. Born Keith K. Salandy, K. Banger is a standout for his dynamic presence in the local Perth Amboy, New Jersey Hip Hop community. On this independent release, he’s bringing his game to 13 tracks.
The gruff, raw sounding K. Banger sound is definitely East Coast. It harkens back to an era when groups like Mobb Deep ruled the underground scene, with Nas and Wu-Tang. It’s just not as refined and sharp. This lack of polish just makes some of the tracks absolutely forgettable. Lyrically, K. slices like a katana, accompanied by melodic beats and street conversation interludes.
Definite standout tracks are “Motivation,” the Wu-Tang influenced or more specifically RZA-sounding song which is truly exemplary and a tribute to the underground sound, as well as “Eastern Renaissance,” which is cut from the same mold. The album concludes with a pedestrian instrumental, capping the short running time of this release.
If you live in the New Jersey area and you’re an underground head, you more than likely have this album. But, for all others who have not heard any of K. Banger’s material, it may not hit you like you might hope, expect or want it to; like the underground releases of yesteryear – leaving you with an album that sounds mediocre.
