“I don’t reinvent the wheel” is sung with enough harmonic style on Too Much Too Soon track “The World Is Coming” that could make one forget how truthful rapper, singer and producer Kent Jones is being. His first big project since having one of the most low-key success stories of 2016 through platinum hit “Don’t Mind,” Jones is utilizing his triple-threat status without scatterbrain syndrome. Moreover, he never uses one single ability as a crutch for tracks and follows through thematically on each track. Jones can effortlessly engage in a post-Drake, sing-song slickness, spit with Big Sean sensibilities and sonically hold everything together like Travis Scott. At times Too Much Too Soon feels like a diverse millennial playlist with just one artist. Then again, Jones is only 23-years-old.
For opener “Mass Appeal,” maintains a safe zone with the Gang Starr classic just to flex lyrically over his own production: “A lot of debates from my city about who the best is / apparently I was second but I never got that message / never home now everyone has to deal with it and accept it / they know who the best is / just wondering who the rest is.” More traditional rap moments pop up several times on “Passport,” “Bars,” and “Triple 7.”
That doesn’t mean there aren’t any clever pop hits more in-line with “Don’t Mind.” After “Axel Foley”s instrumental break two tracks in, “Columbia” could serve as a real follow-up single to his breakout single. Jones sings “Hola mamacita/I’m so glad to meet ya” with a chromatic melody that’s irresistibly catchy. Thankfully, his vocal chops are up to par.
A heavy twenty tracks long, Too Much Too Soon has Jones constantly reminding listeners of his abilities at every turn. The Tallahassee, Florida-native can even engage in West Coast Hip Hop’s current fascination with hard drums and G-funk synths. “Past Life” which slickly takes interpolation of Parliament Funk’s “Flashlight” and “Bitch Please” is soaked in L.A. nightlife. Those in need of contemporary club bangers can look toward “Sit Down” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Dicky and E-40 alongside the Yo Gotti and K-Camp assisted “Hello.”
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Those who are looking for one specific vibe may be turned off by the mixtape’s lack of real cohesiveness. It may not bode too well if one isn’t a fan of one particular Hip Hop subgenre he tackles. However, the more diverse rap fans will undoubtedly appreciate his approach. The biggest production moments are the more grandiose instrumentals from Jones. “County of Milan” is a multilayered evolution of J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League’s best pre-2010 work. Besides “Axel Foley,” there are great instrumental interludes in “Rick Robinson” and mixtape closer, “Til Next Time.”
As streaming takes the place of physical album sales, artists like Jones are starting to make sense. Too Much Too Soon is an interesting example of artists trying everything and doing it real well even if the point isn’t necessarily to “reinvent the wheel.”
