Nov
03

Ludacris: The Ace Ventura of Rap

Evan Nabavian murdered Roger Pedacter. Ludacris doesn’t get his due, probably because he’s an undisguised pop star and as much an actor as he is a rapper. Also, he has few albums good albums to his name despite many big singles. But Luda is a genuine talent. He puts a face on every syllable, usually… Continue reading »

Aug
08

Kritics Choice: Big K.R.I.T. Gets Prolific

Evan Nabavian is old school when he rides. July 31, 2011. Children and maladroit college grads like me were blindsided by the arrival of summer’s halfway point. Working men and women trudged home through the unbearable heat while I sat in my room, where I had been sitting all day, all month, all summer, and… Continue reading »

Jun
16

Video: Big K.R.I.T. ft. Bun B & Ludacris – “Country Shit Remix”

Evan Nabavian may or may not have that zan with that lean. Ludacris and Bun B are outstanding rappers whose output is polluted with filler and trash. In the case of Bun, the cause is his compulsion to give a verse to anyone who asks nicely. His ubiquity seems to come from a place of… Continue reading »

Apr
27

Beards, Blunts & Brooklyn: Freddie Gibbs & Big K.R.I.T. @ Southpaw

Photo via Austin Surreal Abe Beame is always cooking up something marvelous. What a difference a year and two critically acclaimed mixtapes make. Last June, Big K.R.I.T. had some buzz going — but not enough to save him from famously being booed off stage for attempting to perform “Country Shit” at a Jay Electronica/Joell Ortiz… Continue reading »

Mar
28

Big KRIT – Return of 4Eva

Posted off the strength of the previous leaks, plus a rare endorsement from committed skeptic, Disco Vietnam. See also: the making of Return of 4Eva, courtesy of Wally Sparks and the Smoking Section. Download: ZIP: Big K.R.I.T-Return of 4Eva

Mar
15

Mr. Fusion

Time is scarce. There are planes to Austin to catch. But since KRIT is focused on all things temporal, it’s an appropriate subject matter. Last year, I wrote a post comparing Justin Scott to Black Milk and my point still stands. Both are working well within circumscribed traditions — less interested in innovation than expansion.… Continue reading »

Jul
19

Double Time and Double Talk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59vrqtdV2-4 The term “blog rapper” was always an easy crutch. Aside from Mickey Fact and Charles Hamilton, the latter of whom actually had a blog and released mixtapes every time he flushed his RSS Feed, it lumped a whole bunch of rappers who didn’t deserve to be compared. “Boutique rapper” was better and this isn’t… Continue reading »

Jul
14

Doughnuts & Black Milk

Between Jay Electronica, Freddie Gibbs, and now Black Milk, Decon is stealthily snapping up the premier blog-rap prospects who lack mass appeal (read: not Southern or sensitive singers).* Beyond superficial differences, there’s little different in the approach between Black Milk and say, Big K.R.I.T. Both rapper/producers bump up against the boundaries of well-established regional styles,… Continue reading »