- New Music Tuesday!
Annddd welcome to another artist I know absolutely nothing about. Time to turn to Wikipedia!!
Justin Scott (what an adorably normal name) is only 26, and hails from Mississippi. K.R.I.T. = King Remembered In Time - so obviously no ago there, at all, whatsoever (can you feel my eyes rolling through the screen?). So I'm sort of pre-disposed to not be cool with this.
He's come through the Mix Tape release route, and opened for Wiz Khalifa in 2012 at a few tour venues. This marks his debut album release though, and while it was originally set to be released in September of 2011, it actually came out in June of 2012. Complications man. Unexplained complications.
Toped the Rap and R&B/Hop Hope Charts, and got to the top 5 of the US Billboard 200. Looks like I missed something here at some point.
"LFU300MA - Intro - Album Version" starts off the album with just a little bit of speaking, first a girl, then a guy who I can only assume is Big K.R.I.T. himself. We find out what we're about to get into here, because of the past, and looking into a new future.
First actual song is the title track, "Live From The Underground." A sound about what he's got to offer us. Good thing to say though, promise: he's got a great tone to his rapping. I can understand almost every word, for the best or worst, that he gets out, and his sound is just kind of nice. He hits a good chord in around the middle of possible notes. There's a spoken portion at the end, where someone in "A&R Ville" actually finds him in the underground. Oh boy, we've got a story brewing.
"Cool 2 Be Southern" didn't need to be stated - come on, it just is. (I went to school in Nashville - I stand by this as well as the fact that all Jersey Girls are NOT Snooki). Countrified. Hellz yeah. Okay, seriously though - not a bad song all aspect considered. Obviously, it's not just cool because Big K.R.I.T. says so, but it's not an awful anthem for the sentiment. There's a party aspect to it that's straight up brought into this song.
The next one's the big single from what I can gather, "I Got This." I can only think of my friends from back home when this sentence comes up, and only Erin, Jamie, and Dina will know what I'm talking about, and only if they read this. Anywhos, I suppose to rest of you would prefer I talk about the song? Eh, okay. It's not bad. There's a very old school beat happening, which is odd, but kind of cool. The drum loop in it is so weird to hear in something that out in 2012. I don't totally know what's going on in the chorus, but I guess he's pretty damn confident in himself. Lotsa f-bombs. Just kinda waiting for the next song at this point.
"Money On The Floor" is the first song we get that features other artists. This one also has 8Ball & MJG and 2 Chainz. Nope, no idea who they are either, sorry. Uh, well, let's see here. I mean, the beat's super steady going. The chorus dropped the bass way down vocally. I guess it's all right? Or just not appealing enough. I can't come to a real decision there.
I walked around my room cleaning up a few things as "What U Mean" came on, and I really… don't care. I was almost a little embarrassed to have this one on. A chorus means a lot, and the words you emphasize don't go unnoticed - and these one just aren't appealing. Also, I just caught a line about women being freaks. This guy is less and less appealing. And to think. Ludacris makes an appearance on this track. *sigh* Please pick better projects, Luda. Even your Beiber stint was better than this. Ugh, also, sorry about this video.
"My Sub (Pt. 2: The Jackin')" is… huh? His sub? He means musically, right? Eh, I can't catch on to this one either. At least the chorus here has that simple drop sound that people seem to get into in clubs - that's positive for him down the line I suppose. Sounds like he gets on the phone with Wale, but I can't hear everything here, lol. And… wait, maybe he jacks a car? Man, I don't know… there's some kind of story happening that I think I'm missing the point of.
Next up is "Don't Let Me Down" and this ain't no Beatles song. Okay, well, actually it sort of is. As far as I can tell, he sampled the sound of the classic song and added his own rap verses in between. It's probably just the familiarity, but this one is actually okay to leave on somewhere in the background of things. Hey, we'll take what we can get sometimes, right?
"Porchlight" includes Anthony Hamilton. Personal shudder at that last name. This one's at least got a good solid guitar with it. I think we're almost sort of hearing the romantic side of this guy, but yah know, let's not go crazy here.
More new names in this one, "Pull Up" includes Big Sant and Bun B. The beat's steady, as always, and straight out of a loop machine. I don't get the point, because I don't get the words and how they're put together. I feel like maybe this sounds like something familiar that I liked at one point in my life, but is not it at all. Man, still 6 songs to go and I'm completely over the album.
"Yeah Dats Me" started playing by accident at work before I could click the volume off, and I think my co-workers were a little surprised - this is not really my style. Actually, in all honesty, the way this one moves so fast and whips around and around sort of gives me a minor headache. There's a girl in there, who I'm sure should have been, but wasn't, credited for joining in. I think the whole song talks about money, but I have no legitimate idea here.
Devin The Dude comes on board for the next one, "Hydroplaning." I would have assumed a light R&B song at first, especially with the harmonies slightly obvious in the background vocals, but wrong, wrong, wrong. I think it's got to do with drinking, and maybe cruising on that particular high. I just want one of these songs to have obvious meaning, but who the hell knows when you can't understand what's actually going on.
"If I Fall" includes Melanie Fiona, and I think this has got to be the more heart-felt number in the collection. Life's tough, but he presses on and tries. Apparently he only drinks and smokes to pass the time, by the way. The chorus asks if people listening would save him or let him die if he fell. Basically, will you care for someone afterwords? (Yeah, I am looking for deeper meaning, hush.) I'm catching lyrics about leaving and non-trust, and all kinds of stuff. Personally, I prefer to have more faith in the people around me. That might be good or bad, but I don't give up on them.
Growing up to be a better man than your father is tough to put into words, and I feel like maybe we don't hear that a lot in mainstream music, because it's a very personal sentiment. "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" looks at his dad as influential, giving advice in weird, but more than helpful ways. Unconventional I suppose we could say. He gave him condoms instead of the sex talk. More of an attitude of letting him get hurt and learn from it, but always with love at the base of it.
"Praying Man" starts off with a creepy harmony of voices, and picks up into a slow-moving jam which features B.B. King… or samples. I don't know at the moment, but I'm guessing the later. He's running (KRIT), from something, and the praying man is coming. He's being chased, probably by life. Praying Man offers him a ride away from the oppression.
Final song! "Live From The Underground (Reprise)." We're back to the beginning, sort of. I'm curious to hear if the story picks back up where it left of. In actuality, it's a lot of repetition of the chorus. When the verse actually does come in, I guess it's along the lines of life advice and some sense of moving on. In all honesty, the music probably the best on here, but by now I'm just waiting for things to be over.
Added to My Playlist:
Oh man… I'm so glad this is over. I hate albums that make me a little embarrassed to listen to them around anyone else. I definitely prefer things I don't mind my mom hearing, and this didn't fall into that at all. He's a semi-talented rapper, but I don't find this entertaining on a normal day.
Next up is "Don't Let Me Down" and this ain't no Beatles song. Okay, well, actually it sort of is. As far as I can tell, he sampled the sound of the classic song and added his own rap verses in between. It's probably just the familiarity, but this one is actually okay to leave on somewhere in the background of things. Hey, we'll take what we can get sometimes, right?
"Porchlight" includes Anthony Hamilton. Personal shudder at that last name. This one's at least got a good solid guitar with it. I think we're almost sort of hearing the romantic side of this guy, but yah know, let's not go crazy here.
More new names in this one, "Pull Up" includes Big Sant and Bun B. The beat's steady, as always, and straight out of a loop machine. I don't get the point, because I don't get the words and how they're put together. I feel like maybe this sounds like something familiar that I liked at one point in my life, but is not it at all. Man, still 6 songs to go and I'm completely over the album.
"Yeah Dats Me" started playing by accident at work before I could click the volume off, and I think my co-workers were a little surprised - this is not really my style. Actually, in all honesty, the way this one moves so fast and whips around and around sort of gives me a minor headache. There's a girl in there, who I'm sure should have been, but wasn't, credited for joining in. I think the whole song talks about money, but I have no legitimate idea here.
Devin The Dude comes on board for the next one, "Hydroplaning." I would have assumed a light R&B song at first, especially with the harmonies slightly obvious in the background vocals, but wrong, wrong, wrong. I think it's got to do with drinking, and maybe cruising on that particular high. I just want one of these songs to have obvious meaning, but who the hell knows when you can't understand what's actually going on.
"If I Fall" includes Melanie Fiona, and I think this has got to be the more heart-felt number in the collection. Life's tough, but he presses on and tries. Apparently he only drinks and smokes to pass the time, by the way. The chorus asks if people listening would save him or let him die if he fell. Basically, will you care for someone afterwords? (Yeah, I am looking for deeper meaning, hush.) I'm catching lyrics about leaving and non-trust, and all kinds of stuff. Personally, I prefer to have more faith in the people around me. That might be good or bad, but I don't give up on them.
Growing up to be a better man than your father is tough to put into words, and I feel like maybe we don't hear that a lot in mainstream music, because it's a very personal sentiment. "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" looks at his dad as influential, giving advice in weird, but more than helpful ways. Unconventional I suppose we could say. He gave him condoms instead of the sex talk. More of an attitude of letting him get hurt and learn from it, but always with love at the base of it.
"Praying Man" starts off with a creepy harmony of voices, and picks up into a slow-moving jam which features B.B. King… or samples. I don't know at the moment, but I'm guessing the later. He's running (KRIT), from something, and the praying man is coming. He's being chased, probably by life. Praying Man offers him a ride away from the oppression.
Final song! "Live From The Underground (Reprise)." We're back to the beginning, sort of. I'm curious to hear if the story picks back up where it left of. In actuality, it's a lot of repetition of the chorus. When the verse actually does come in, I guess it's along the lines of life advice and some sense of moving on. In all honesty, the music probably the best on here, but by now I'm just waiting for things to be over.
Added to My Playlist:
- "Cool 2 Be Southern"
Oh man… I'm so glad this is over. I hate albums that make me a little embarrassed to listen to them around anyone else. I definitely prefer things I don't mind my mom hearing, and this didn't fall into that at all. He's a semi-talented rapper, but I don't find this entertaining on a normal day.
RSS Feed
