Album Review- Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music
Killer Mike is one of those slept on artists who manages to have street sensibility with somewhat conscious lyrics. He has struggled to go beyond the underground however, but his most recent affiliation with T.I.'s Grand Hustle imprint looks to improve upon his success. He dropped an album last year and 2012 brings us a new EP from the man who once changed his name to Mike Bigga in an attempt to become more mainstream.
The EP starts off with "Big Beast" with Bun B and T.I. who also handles the hook. The sing is pretty much about how trill or real they all are individually. The beat is cool and the verses have some decent energy. "Go" is alright but Mike seems to just ramble on with no purpose in one long verse. on "Untitled" Mike once again goes over some of his feelings about religious institutions and the government. It's fine but doesn't add any new depth to his previous statements which have been better. On "Southern Fried" he relives some southern stereotypes such as being fresh and clean in a slab and smoking etc.
"JoJo's Chillin" is a unique story-telling track over a break beat about a dude named JoJo escaping from Atlanta to New York. "Reagan" is a much better example of Mikes ability to be street savvy and political as he chastises rappers for not focusing on the issues we need o while instead glorifiying the street life before then going into the policies of the former president. "Don't Die" is another story this time from the first person perspective of Mike and his escape from dirty cops. "Ghetto Gospel" balances the idea of the classic church prayer with verses that are about actual actions.
El-P is a featured guest on "Butane (Champions Anthem)" where they two put out some general verses about their illness and the respect they get from the underground. "Anywhere But Here" is pretty much summing up how life isn't fair. (I think to be honest it's a cool song but what its saying to me as a theme isn't readily evident to me.) Mike talks to the male role models on "Willie Burke Sherwood". The title track "R.A.P. Music" is about how hip-hop is so much to Mike and those who appreciate his music.
Killer Mike is a good rapper but this set of songs is a little bit too long. While he has several songs that have a real purpose and a couple with tracks that carry them, overall it's more of the same from Mike without any of the support he should be bringing to his positions by now. I'm aware he doesn't trust police and on Don't Die he addresses it creatively but on other tracks he brings it back up plainly and it begins to sound like a broken record. I'd like to have seen more direction from this set of songs but they seem to run together.
Rating: 2.5/5
The EP starts off with "Big Beast" with Bun B and T.I. who also handles the hook. The sing is pretty much about how trill or real they all are individually. The beat is cool and the verses have some decent energy. "Go" is alright but Mike seems to just ramble on with no purpose in one long verse. on "Untitled" Mike once again goes over some of his feelings about religious institutions and the government. It's fine but doesn't add any new depth to his previous statements which have been better. On "Southern Fried" he relives some southern stereotypes such as being fresh and clean in a slab and smoking etc.
"JoJo's Chillin" is a unique story-telling track over a break beat about a dude named JoJo escaping from Atlanta to New York. "Reagan" is a much better example of Mikes ability to be street savvy and political as he chastises rappers for not focusing on the issues we need o while instead glorifiying the street life before then going into the policies of the former president. "Don't Die" is another story this time from the first person perspective of Mike and his escape from dirty cops. "Ghetto Gospel" balances the idea of the classic church prayer with verses that are about actual actions.
El-P is a featured guest on "Butane (Champions Anthem)" where they two put out some general verses about their illness and the respect they get from the underground. "Anywhere But Here" is pretty much summing up how life isn't fair. (I think to be honest it's a cool song but what its saying to me as a theme isn't readily evident to me.) Mike talks to the male role models on "Willie Burke Sherwood". The title track "R.A.P. Music" is about how hip-hop is so much to Mike and those who appreciate his music.
Killer Mike is a good rapper but this set of songs is a little bit too long. While he has several songs that have a real purpose and a couple with tracks that carry them, overall it's more of the same from Mike without any of the support he should be bringing to his positions by now. I'm aware he doesn't trust police and on Don't Die he addresses it creatively but on other tracks he brings it back up plainly and it begins to sound like a broken record. I'd like to have seen more direction from this set of songs but they seem to run together.
Rating: 2.5/5
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