Let Kutt Calhoun tell the story, and he’s the most underappreciated commodity in Hip Hop. That may be the reason why he’s described the name of his latest effort Black Gold as a parallel to nature’s most prized resource. An interesting yet unnecessary metaphor, the meaning of the title is more akin to the fact that the Kansas City rapper shines through here without acting overtly brash or gaudy.
Calling upon his celebrated label mates, the opening cuts on Black Gold are a welcoming collection of collaborations that exhibit the rowdy and zealous style associated with Strange Music. Krizz Kaliko brings his magnetic pipes on “Self Preservation,” while Tech N9ne comes through with a verse on “I Been Dope” that becomes an instant album standout. “501s and Rightsides” highlights Calhoun’s associated gang ties, with Brotha Lynch Hung delivering a hook that is as aggressive as it is frank. In that respect, any issues found on these early records by devoted Strange fans would simply go under the category of nitpicking.
By stark contrast, the album’s tail end displays an emphasis on subjects that are more relatable, with thankful perseverance (“That’s My Word”), relationship troubles (“Baby Momma Drama”) and societal chaos (“Hello and Goodbye”) filling the rapper’s lyrical spirit. In each instance Calhoun sounds as focused as ever, with the latter track sending an impassioned prayer to the victims of Sandy Hook:
“Mothers sisters and brothers and daddies who won’t recover / Puzzled from all the chaos / Who never thought they would worry / Their young child / Now they got to make amends early / ‘Cause a coward had decided he was God judge and jury…”
The biggest issue with Black Gold becomes Kutt Calhoun’s flirtation with trite clichés. “Jack Tripper” plays off the theme of ‘70s sitcom “Three’s Company,” but the lyrical composition here is anything but family-friendly (“Got a friend named Meagan / Her pussy is so good / Lips so big / She could suck the water out the wood”). Similarly, “I Don’t Like the Look of It” interpolates a Willy Wonka line that a plethora of other rappers have used before. Calling out the hood fabulists on “See What Had Happened Was,” Calhoun runs down a menu of routine lies over a rinky dink backdrop. Playful by nature, the shelf life of these records do not extend past the first few spins.
Black Gold revels in its ability to highlight the unique approach of Strange Music while still sounding refreshingly conventional. At 35 years young, Kutt Calhoun is picking up traction when other rappers would be given the checkered flag. Underappreciated or not, that’s something that won’t go unnoticed.
salute kutty nothin but greatness
Solid album Kutty
Damn right Kutty! One of the most slept on rappers of all time imo
Solid album. Dude has an amazing live show.
BLOODY KUTTY CAL!! ^S^
Dope shit, 4/5
Great Album!! ^S^
This album is fire. Kutt Calhoun is a beast. My fave songs If I HAD to pick are the first three and last three before the bonus track. He got deep ass shit, gangsta shit, and some more party shit. Dope album overall. Support Strange Music’s Kansas City chief!
I’m from the west and still seen tech perform live 4..5? times…dude is a beast, put KC on the map!
Hell yeah, keepin it keeblur homie
The album is a killer. I’m really glad that I bought it. Great voice, great lyricist.
Kutty bringing it hard with another one. I love this style.
Everyone I need your help. Tweet @106andpark and @BET and tell them we want @KuttCalhoun to win a BET Award! He is too under appreciated! Hip Hop DX thank you guys for always giving Kutty recognition. Even if you don’t love everything he does you respect the talent. Thank you.
Sorry but you can keep dreaming. 106 may as well be called 106 & Pop with all the bullshit videos they play these days.
MEHH
Raw!
you can see Trinidad James’ artistic influence on this dude
dumbest fuckin thing Ive ever heard, not Kutts appearance, but the fact that trinidad james is an artist with influence, idk lol’d at it haha that being said, solid album, Kutt killed it, his best work in a while
wicked ass album. strange is gonna murk the industry this year wit solid material.
Another classic, kutt doing what he’s best at imo… that gangsta street/ poetic gutter music.
Feature Presentation and the Flamez Mixtape are getting put down a notch after this one, Black Gold my new official #1 Kutt album. (And Feature Presentation is in my top 5 goto albums, Just Sayin)
Strange!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This deserves at least 4.5 out of 5!
This album is near perfection.
4.5/5 !! Album is amazing.
It sucks front to back
So you have no taste then, sorry to say.
Another winner from the Strange Camp
at first when i listen to this album, i did not notice it was such a nice album. He did( excellent).
I’ve always liked Kutt, but never really loved him. This cd is awesome though. makes me want to buy his music as religiously as i do techs.
Lol @ the strange music stans giving this a 5/5
lame fucks lmfao
Yeah LOL at people supporting a good artist, who does that shit? People should be like you and just go around and hate on shit, that’ll make them a lot cooler
I would rather be a Strange Stan than a Stan of I dont…Lil Wayne
Kutt’s best album!
Nice!
this shit is wack…….where are u guys from that u think this shit is hot
garbage
I would have to disagree with the critique..in the aspect that “i dont like the look of it”, “jack tripper”, and “what had happened was” dont have much replay value…each one of those bangs and even for being somewhat simple in lyricism compared some of kutts best tracks…they still outdo most of the other commercial bullshit of the same content..ive kutt all of kutts released work to date and every cd he only seems to grow and get better 5/5
SOOOOOOOO TRUE the worst songs from anyone at strange are still better than the comercial bullshit’s best shit my personal least favorite song from strange is stress release from seepage… that song blows (imo) but i would pick it over what is on the radio anyday
it sucks front to back again
This was so fuckin lackluster. The only enjoyment I can see is the Tech N9ne feature.
dis album was just weak bruh. kutt is a subpar rapper at best. ima jus wait for the new ces cru album
where did all these trolls come from?
Bull! A verse Tech? Did the reviewer, even listen to the long? It’s 3 verses by th both in a 3 or so bars back and forth, with a double take similar style hook. Very well done. Then a remix is fellow KC rappers strange music relatives. And I preference this by saying I hate Willy Wonka, I call BS, I love I don’t like the look of it, beat goes hard, pretty sure Kali helps the hook. ( may not be him ) jack tripper also uncredited Kali, helping the hook, yes the content is Xxx rated. But with songs like that box, SOS, that’s a weak argument. Kutt’s a gangsta style rapper. Who can rap, flow, and bring surprisingly good content as far as song content. So I call BS on the youll move past those songs. See what had happen was… Meh. A point, that’s a opinion song. Either you can stand it because its humorous, or you say F it it’s cliche and boring. The hook makes up for a weaker content.
And seemingly the catchiest beat not made by timberland, seven, drumma boy seemingly in a long time. Monsta Muzik kill this beat. Piano is amazing! Makes snug brim not that horrible. Kutts verse was ok. Hooks good. And BG seemingly regularly killing Kutt songs! Mostly the beat makes the song. With a boring verse, a ok one, and a good one.
1st listens I thought the album was bad. Now I’m thinking its pretty good. I think his other 2 maybe at least one of them where better. But better than his last EP. A step up. Makes me not be afraid to see a Kutt feature hopefully in the future.
Seriously , cats are dumb. Got a moron wonder why people like it…. Read the review dipshit.
It’s Kutt Calhoun not Chino XL, Locksmith, Terminology, etc. expect a gritty, gangsta rapper who shows potential to do actual great music and boom you become super in love with the album. Just like the Lynch Hung album. My 1st real taste of him and I was blown away of how much I didn’t dislike him. By basing my opinion off him and who he is I got blown away. ( his verses from other songs aka features )
End point if you seriously dislike this album. After listening to it with bass, not your head phones. Multiple times, and still didn’t like it. I’d need to some logic. Because with seven and this Monsta Muzik guy the beats and the bass are top notch. Making a above average with potential rapper look great. Add in Tech, Kali on seemingly every hook lol, etc
“The beats and bass” hahah you obviously know your music mate. Turning music up louder does not make it better and playing it through speakers wow I didnt know you could do that. That being said though seven is one of my favorite most consistent producers at the moment.
Tell that to my friend. Yes listening to your music louder when your system has the potential to do damage, Seven is your best friend. And when the album is mainly is produced by him. That helps make the album appeal to more people.
It’s good but not great. I like Kutt though and its good.
bloody kutty has, does and will always go hard as fuck on anything he puts out . #STRANGEFAM
“refreshingly conventional”. as odd of a description that is, I would have to agree with you.
Kutt and Seven put together a really solid album.
Not my favorite album from Kutty, but still a decent album considering. Expected more though.
Great album, Strange Music has incredible artists
Slept on for sure. Very dope album.
CLASSIC!!
classic!!!!
Black gold BABY!! LIGHTYEARS AHEAD OF THESE VIEW!!!
This Album Is Straight HEAT! LOVE IT! ^S^
i love strange music and everyone there but if im being honest the only songs that i play on repeat are 1,2and3 501s and rightsides is my favorite. i have no ties to any gangs and no experience in gangs but that song is fucking awesome
no no no. on so many levels don’t like this album.
Didnt care for kutt’s previous releases..but Black Gold was a pretty danmn good album
Massive STRANGE MUSIC fan and a big fan of this album. Kutt has disappointed me in the past but I’ve been banging this album for weeks. IT GOES UP BABY!
Thats funny how most of you who talk mad shit on these Strange Artists are the same ones that Hype up all of these other Garbage artists while they average a 2 out of 5 stars rarely do you see a Strange artist score less than a 4 out of 5. This album was a fucking BANGER! Open up your ears and quit being closed minded, at least my favorite record label makes sense when they rap. STRAAAAAAAAAANGE MUSIC! BITCH!
preach it man preach it. ^S^
who be that
this is kutt’s best album flat out
Overall a great album
best
l like that new joint with ben-g,cat can sing i like r&b with rap this is kutt best album to date am glad that he has found his lane.
Great album, dope beats.
Dope SHit!!!