Two years ago, when Big K.R.I.T. came out with his epic double album 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time, he was lauded for his ambition and craft.
His new album, K.R.I.T. IZ HERE, a sequel to his successful 2010 albumixtape K.R.I.T. Wuz Here, lacks the same sense of urgency or gusto.
Having already made a definitive artistic statement, K.R.I.T. is resting on his laurels. Even if it meanders a bit, that doesn’t mean K.R.I.T. IZ HERE is a misfire; there are plenty of moments that speak to the rapper’s talents and show that he has potential to accomplish more.
The album starts off with “K.R.I.T. HERE,” a lavish track comprised of soul samples and lush instrumentals. K.R.I.T. sounds as confident as ever; rapping like he’s leading a homecoming marching band. None of the subsequent eighteen tracks match the intro’s level of relentless, dynamic energy. And for the most part, K.R.I.T. IZ HERE’s first third is much more refined.
“I Been Waitin” is riveting in its simplicity, while “Make It Easy” finds the Mississippi rapper illustrating his joy and happiness over warm, textured production. “Addiction,” featuring Saweetie and Lil Wayne, is a radio-friendly banger that weaves together the themes of substance abuse and sexuality. Weezy packs his verse with his signature brand of clever innuendo: “She asked me why is my drink so pink/ I said, ‘Lean on me, lean on me’/ Mix the codeine like Creatine/ I’m her addiction and she a fiend.”
After “Energy,” the king remembered in time loses his footing and the project’s quality ebbs and flows. The album’s winning streak comes to a close with “Obvious,” a dreary track that has Rico Love singing a corny R&B chorus. Despite both artists’ efforts, the song fails to be sensual or romantic and just comes off as trite. K.R.I.T. delivers some of the most cringeworthy bars of his last few years when he tries to address how he wants to change for his lover: “Maybe do yoga, bend over backwards, forward our chapter/ Go back to college, get me a master’s, no longer a bachelor.” Another low-point is the J. Cole-assisted “Prove It,” a song that gets bogged down by incongruity between their respective verses.
Besides these misfires, K.R.I.T. delivers knock-out performances on “Believe,” “Family Matters,” and “M.I.S.S.I.S.S.I.P.P.I.” Although he’s mostly content with clinging to formulas, there are a few interesting stabs at experimentation. “Learned From Texas” emulates Houston’s signature chopped and screwed style and “Blue Flame Ballet” paints a cinematic portrait of a night at the strip club with its abstract production and experimental soul vocals.
K.R.I.T. IZ HERE is neither a career-defining album nor a complete flop. Instead of building off the creative momentum of 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time, K.R.I.T. is on auto-pilot.
But thankfully, he’s still effortlessly exciting.
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What a trash review. You probably didn’t even really listen to the words and music.
He is so talented. Cant believe he wastes his skills trying to sound like all the other clowns.
Warning do not trust this review
1st listen I was disappointed but this one that grows in ya few skippables but overall miles ahead of the competition
WACK REVIEW. Daniel Spielberger needs to be put in time out. Krit puts in so much work on the mic and behind it smh.
I dont know why his rating is so low but y’all clearly sleep on’em. This man is not only authentic but much needed in the hiphop community. His Pov is Strong, positively uplifting, and honest with clear Messages and politics in music. What not only us but our children should be listening to.
Really enjoyed this project, different styles and Krit never manages to disappoint
Sht was fire ???????
Krit is the best in the game when it comes to word play, story telling, be self dependant, let’s keep it all the way real, he is a beast. This album is inspirational in many ways. I have watched this King over the years and he has proven to be just that a King. Someone give him his Crown.
I never trust a colonizer’s view of our culture. Although you may like and even love our music, lyrics, arts, etc, you’ll never be able to truly feel it from the soul. Krit writes, produces and creates from the soul.
So Daniel although I’ll fight for your freedom of speech, I completely disagree and would rather trust a person truly from the community to speak on this.
Feel free to review the Chance’s album though.
Just like you’ll never truly be able to speak our language, be non violent in civilisation or raise your own kids. It’s evolutionary.
Symptoms of racism white supremacy so I guess the mafia is infamous and perfect for American culture let’s go back through history Europeans love violence just look at everything y’all produce killing killing killing the purge etc come on nice one though let’s talk about the dope epidemic where y’all have clinics to shoot up at and how your birth rates are on decline
Haha. Glad you say your language. A language which we were beaten and hanged if anyone dared to learn how to read while massa kids were learning. Would never ever be offended by that statement. And hey, Europeans have been historically more violent and the books are there in your local library to back a known fact up.
Trash Review. This album is 4.4
Y’all need to fire whoever is doing the reviews. This is at least the 3rd great album of year that y’all shitted on….
Krit is the new king of the South.someone fire this Daniel guy..he doesn’t know how to give ratings on great artists.
The King Remembered In Time…fo sho!!
The Work Of Art Speaks For Itself.
This is Krit’s best project to me, the bars, the production, and still keep his country soul vibe, lack of urgency??? He’s ten projects in his career, he doesn’t need urgency, he is top tier lyricist of this generation, garbage review XXL needs let this person go, they obviously do no nothing about hip hop
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Don’t trust this article!!!! 5/5
As a KRIT fan for so many years I was also disappointed with this album. The first two releases had me hyped but as soon as I saw he had 19 songs on there I knew he’d fucked up. That Rico Love shit and about six other songs should’ve been left off. And I like the Yella Breezy track but I couldn’t tell them niccas apart. He’s still one of my favs and I’ll still be going to his show when he comes to town but I hope that he’ll keep his next release to around nine, tight tracks.
This krit isn’t for white Americans that’s why this got bad reviews it’s about black empowerment don’t know what y’all expect from a immigrant written editor.
That explains why Krit hasn’t been at our white privilege meetings lately. White teens never gave a crap when Cube was calling us Devils, still don’t. Come on back Krit, we miss ya.
This is KRIT’s album of growth. The experimentation with his cadence, flow, and lyrics are very different from his other albums. Great album, and looking forward to the next album.
THIS REVIEWER PREFERRED JADEN SMITH AND TYLER’S ALBUMS. FIRE THIS CLOWN
Another crappy review. First Nas now K.R.I.T. This album is better than most of y’all highly rated albums
I never heard any of Krit stuff until TDT and that was just ok but this album is probably one of the best albums I have heard all year, even so I went back to listen to Cadillactica and 4eva , Im just ashamed I been sleeping on this dude
Bro check out KRIT WUZ HERE and work yo way up
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“Addiction,” featuring Saweetie and Lil Wayne, is a radio-friendly banger that weaves together the themes of substance abuse and sexuality” where does the lyrics explore the topic of substance abuse? this author is just filling in the blanks of this review with bullshit.
Album is 4/5 minimum and likely hip-hop album of the year. This reviewer is full of shit. I heard real growth in lyrics and production, while also using a few tracks to pay homage to Texas hip-hop. “Prove It” was a highlight on the album and you’re complaining about incongruity of verses? Get out of here.
Man im gettin sick of these reviews. Not on point once again.
Classic by far track 1 thru 19 banging ????
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He fell off since forever is a mighty long time.
Even though he has good music the concept of that album is way different from his recent album
Disappointed
How when that 2017 and it’s 2019. Yo bum ass must’ve picked up on KRIT at exactly 2017 and not 2010-2011. It sure does show.
One of the hottest albums of the year!!!!
Yeah whoever reviewed this album clearly reviewed it against 4eva is a Mighty Long Time. While I agree it’s not as great as that album was it’s still 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 times better than some of the garbage you give 4 stars and up on this site. You can’t be grading KRIT on a curve and giving some of these trash albums a break. Grade the trash against other great albums then if that’s the case. Horrible review, album is a 4.3 out of 5 at least so I’m tagging 5 to make up for your asinine score. Only missteps I hear on the album are I Made It, Learned From Texas and maybe the 2 songs before Mississippi. Everything else if flame.
KRIT is a bonafide legend. Real shame he doesn’t get the shine he deserves. Also does this website think it’s special adding decimals to their ratings? Your telling me this album didn’t quite deserve at least a 4? FOH. Like the added minutiae makes your score more legitimate.
what’s wrong with this site, does this website really have some writer has the real sense on all kinds of hip hop? i know like some trap artists really dope on trap side, ok, but also some artists are really dope on the new school or other hip hop range, can you just take your trap hip hop glasses off and listen this album with more attention?? 3.7??
Y’all tripping! This at least a 4/5 Big K.R.I.T. delivered !!!
Choppy flow trash. Cmon man you better than this garbage.
Suprisingly mediocre album from Krizzle. Last one was a classic so this was kinda disappointing. Rico love needs to be shot though, you know it’s a skip when he’s involved.
Mr K R I T baby is one of the most underrated, Underappreciated Artist alive . this man is a Solid Artist from then till now yo ! 5/5