The corporate atrocity that is Valentine’s Day has rightfully become one of the most hated days of the year. Couples often feel the pressure of unreasonable expectations, while many singles beat themselves up for not having a significant other. Kodak Black’s latest dropped on short-notice this Valentine’s Day, and embodies the stress and heartache of relationships in a profoundly melancholy manner.
Even the staunchest purists can’t deny Kodak’s ability to take dark snapshots of human turmoil. The opening “Running Outta Love” belies a man running on “E” in a relationship, and Kodak’s long-faced crooning on the hook hits home: “I ain’t got no hope in us baby (Ain’t got no H-O-P-E)/ It don’t make no sense tryna hold on.”
Kodak‘s tear-stained melodies abound, turning the project into as much an R&B tape as a rap record. While Kodak doesn’t offer much in the lyrics department, his simplicity actually benefits Heart Break Kodak. His hum-worthy lamentations make his statements of sadness more impactful, where tongue-twisting bars would have distracted from the tape’s gloomy vibe.
This is a rapper who dropped this joint from behind bars. Even as he puts his heart on his sleeve, he makes sure to let listeners know it doesn’t pump Kool-Aid. Plucky piano keys set the stage as he tearfully pleads with his girl to understand his thug ways: “I shoulda just listened to what you said but I don’t really like instructions/ I don’t be wantin’ to hear nothing/ ’Cause I was lookin’ up to my cousin/ They was in and out of jail, that was all I seen.”
Considering the man born Dieuson Octave is incarcerated on weapons and drug charges — and was indicted in October on sexual battery charges — these lyrics give Heart Break Kodak a personal touch. The sexual assault charges — which could result in 30 years in prison — make it odd that he’s being so vulnerable on this record. Whether he is trying to portray himself in a new light or his circumstances have forced him to be more self-reflective, the result is compelling art.
The project’s production is 808s & Heartbreak meets the trap (minus any of the game-changing elements from Kanye’s classic). The drums are never overdone, but set slow-to-mid tempos for Kodak to rap over. Profound keys and thick basslines further add to Kodak’s regret, such as on the soul-bearing “Hate Being Alone.”
Most of the beats work well with the tape’s themes, but “When Vultures Cry” features bouncy music that sounds straight out of an ‘80s buddy cop flick. A change of pace from the gloom and doom is welcome, but not in such a cheesy style.
About the only other drawback to this tape is its redundancy. There are really only so many ways to express sadness, and at an hour long, Mr. Octave runs the gamut and then some. “Call You” is a drowsy slog that is only good for counting the seconds to the next track, while “Kicking In” repeats earlier-album sentiments of fear and love, only to a lesser degree.
Still, he threw in a few refreshers, including (the previously released) “Codeine Dreaming” featuring a spastic Lil Wayne. The two throw sizzurp in the face of the anti-lean movement, resulting in head-nodding to Weezy’s dope bars but head-shaking at the cut’s troubling sentiment.
For better or for worse, the troubled rapper seems unapologetic in his nature, whether he’s promoting codeine, pouring his heart out to a woman or making her cry on Valentine’s Day. While this project surely suffers from melodramatic overkill, it remains strong due to its author’s uncompromising honesty.
Trash!
You guys have lost your god damned minds
3.8 and you give jadakiss top 5 DOA a 3.3. Fuck outta here. HHDX you can’t even be taken seriously. If this trash deserves a 3.8, Nipsey should have a perfect 5 in your opinion.
It’s a damn shame this dude is looking like Buck Wheat in 2018 what an embarrassment who is behind this mess he has Zero talent and looks a hot mess somebody really is stuck in a time zone they can never get back what label is this garbage sign to
So his boyfriend left him or what?
If you think he’s so Trash why are you guys even here. This is a prime example of where hate is really love.. so many people I think are trash I don’t even click on there article. You guys love him stop lying to yourself.
Actually we will click on it to tell everyone what pieces of trash these so-called “artists” like this black idiot are. Also to downrate their shitty “music” giving it a 1/5.
“Kodak doesn’t offer much in the lyrics department” so let’s give him a good review. This is a situation where they bump up an album because they have low expectations of it and they will downgrade an album if they expect more from an artist. Then you have guys like Kodak with higher rates albums than Jadakiss and others who actually killed their shit, just not to the level you wanted. This site is ridiculous.
Its amazing the the crap your writers try to pass off as listenable
he can write you guys just can’t understand him
Garbage!
I’d rather clean my ears with razor blades than to listen to this shit. 0/5
I agree Kodak is straight shit shit shit shit shit he’s like a one man embodiment of modern rap’s fucked up, worthless modern state. This shit is so wack it’s not even funny.
He the only rapper makin diff music an tryin new things. Everybody else jus sound the same no thanks we tired of that shit. Why u on here hating jus go listen to the fuckin Migos or something if u Wana hear the same wack sound all the time
I cannot even do this. This album is horrifying. Heartbreak Kodak is trash. The only decent song is Codein Dreaming and he needed lil wayne to save that one. And I know for a fact people are going to say “He’s emotional so that makes it better,” “There is more subject matter.” “It can be bad because he’s emotional.” It’s everything that’s wrong with mainstream trap. It’s dying out…. Hopefully.
I cannot even do this. This album is horrifying. Heartbreak Kodak is trash. The only decent song is Codein Dreaming and he needed lil wayne to save that one. And I know for a fact people are going to say “He’s emotional so that makes it better,” “There is more subject matter.” “It can be bad because he’s emotional.” It’s everything that’s wrong with mainstream trap. It’s dying out…. Hopefully.
I cannot even do this. This album is horrifying. Heartbreak Kodak is trash. The only decent song is Codein Dreaming and he needed lil wayne to save that one. And I know for a fact people are going to say “He’s emotional so that makes it better,” “There is more subject matter.” “It can be bad because he’s emotional.” It’s everything that’s wrong with mainstream trap. It’s dying out…. Hopefully. The only part of this album that is kind of cool is the production (sometimes) most of the time it’s just trappy bullshit.
The album continues to display the versatility of kodak with its thug ballads and exceedingly verses when he spits.apthough sometimes his style may become quite moany it is a solid sophomore album for kodak. Ps It is most likely not generate a big hit other than coedine dreaming.
The sad thing is codeine dreaming was a signle, then it was in project baby 2, now it’s on the heartbreak album. So this new album probably won’t help him at all
Kodak spent so much time making Project Baby 2 really good. This new album heartbreak or whatever it’s called is so bad… Like.. trash…. Not a good look for him, and he’s one of my favorite rappers…. Hopefully he’s back in the groove with his next album cuz I was excited to listen to the album and it was such a letdown
Kodak trash your trash im trash the world is trash this whole rap game trash bruh
lol
This album made me cry 4 times. Straight classic. So lit.
Too fire
This album was honestly a dissapointment, i didnt hear any good songs, beside loyal that was ok.
This is not good at all, i hope he comes back better than ever for instotution 2
This guy is awful
This is the most underrated album of the century