Kirko Bangz’ comfortability to act as a free-roaming major label artist has afforded the Houston maestro to enjoy bachelorhood to no end. Case in point: his formal studio intro with Playa Made; an audio delectable EP chock-full of his slurred Auto-Tune crooning predominately aimed at women. The downfall of the package is that it also tests his claim to the word “playa.”
No longer the “Drank In My Cup rapper,” Bangz has evolved into a full-blown ladies man, that is, if the six out of seven Playa Made cuts hold any validity to his lifestyle. Sonorous R&B templates—armed with robust 808 drums and bass guitar stabs—to attract female eardrums dominate the soundscape of the project, as do its themes. Women seeking a manual on how to squeeze a few more perks out their nonexclusive relationships should gravitate to “Ain’t a Pimp,” where Kirko kills the tired male jig by pointing out some of their favorite tricks. If that song isn’t the anti-pimp anthem, the Jacquees-featured “1:45” can take the crown as booty calls begets begging with pleas like, “Can I please come over yeah and lay you down/I might sound a little thirsty yeah but I don’t give a damn.” Parched, is more like it.
Gearing records towards the fairer sex is a logical tactic for rappers these days (Lord knows they’d rather see them backstage than male groupies) but Young Kirko’s songwriting approach to these records on Playa Made are anything but. When he’s not asking to “let a nigga pour drank on that pussy” on a record titled—yep, you guessed it—”Codiene,” he’s swearing he doesn’t care how many times said pussy has been driven around the block on “Mileage,” which is still a serviceable record thanks to an attractive melody and X.O.’s colorful production.
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It isn’t until the EP’s closer, “Dat Texas,” does Kirko come down off his juice box high and give us more depth to his artistic hustle. The Lone Star State has bred some of the most impactful rappers the game has ever seen and hearing Kirko put his personal spin on its legacy (complete with a bopping flow and splash of Screw) is a great start to etching his name on that hallowed wall. Hopefully there will be more of a balance on the full-length album.
