Justin Scott, better known as Big K.R.I.T. (King Remembered In Time) is a southern rapper/producer whose second studio album, Cadillactica, was just released. The Meridian, Miss native shows his maturity in his creativity by illustrating the highs and lows of living the southern lifestyle as a young and upcoming rapper.
Scott has created a solid buzz for himself throughout the years, especially between his first studio album Live from the Underground, released in June 2012, and now. That buzz was helped by mixtapes like K.R.I.T. Wuz Here, Return of 4Eva, 4eva N a Day and King Remembered In Time, all free music compilations that flooded many sound systems and headphones in anticipation of his studio albums.
The artist does not neglect his southern roots. His flow and lyrics are highly influenced by other Gulf Coast (or “third coast”) rappers such as UGK, 8Ball and MJG, Outkast, Goodie Mob and Scarface.
K.R.I.T. has not only elevated himself as good lyricist but as a solid producer. The rapper has been the exclusive producer of most his projects throughout his career. But some people argued that his reluctance to collaborate with other producers has hindered him, by making his overall sound predictable. His fans needed a change of pace.
Cadillactic, which was released Nov. 10, hit many fans with a curve ball by providing a switch up in themes and a lengthy list of guest features, producers, and songwriters, which was absent in past projects. K.R.I.T. branched out to artists like E-40, Wiz Khalifa, Lupe Fiasco, Raphael Saadiq, and even Memphis native Kenneth Whalum III, who all appear throughout the 15-track album
K.R.I.T. shows off his creativity in this album by telling the story of the planet “Cadillactica.” Sticking to his first album cover theme from “Live From The Underground,” which featured a Cadillac crash landing on Earth, K.R.I.T. presents the story in reverse before the crash landing in the album.
Production wise, K.R.I.T. takes a step back from the boards and lets other producers contribute while he focuses on his lyrics. The instrumentation throughout the tracks gives a good idea about themes K.R.I.T. addresses in this album. For example, in the first song “Life” the rapper is rapping about life, taking opportunities, putting work in for yourself, and breaking sweat. Although his lyrics are very hard hitting the beat is made up of epic, marching drums that really give listeners the visual that K.R.I.T. is very hungry for success, and knows that he has to play an underdog position to obtain it.
Tracks like this keep many of his fans in tune to K.R.I.T.’s music. Despite him not being one of the most viral artists, the Mississippian artist connects to listeners by identifying with their struggles and does not make his success seem easy.
K.R.I.T. does rap about the challenges his faces, but he also sticks to the similar formula seen in his other projects. The Down South rapper has a love for women, his friends and especially car stereo sub systems. In the song “My Sub Pt. 3” K.R.I.T. delivers a club banger with a subtle instrumental theme and an 808 bass line that is so low you might actually need the two 15 milli amp speakers the artist is rapping about.
Towards the middle of the album K.R.I.T. has singles that aren’t as epic as the start of the album. Songs like “Soul Food,” “Third Eye” and “Mind Control” take listeners on a nostalgic trip of his hometown and lost love. The album picks up in pace with K.R.I.T. with the strip club ballad “Pay Attention,” with artist Rico Love singing on the chorus.
The deluxe edition includes two bonus tracks, “Lac Lac” and a remastered version of “Mt Olympus.”
