Thoughts On: Big K.R.I.T's 'CADILLACTICA'

Recommended Listening: Cadillactica

Hello readers and welcome to “Thoughts on”, where I will be giving my horribly unprofessional opinions on things (mostly music) in an attempt to keep myself and you the readers up to date on the entertaining world around us. Jesus that was a sentence. Recently I put out a list with the top 5 Hip-Hop albums of 2014 that a few friends and I made, and it was so fun that I figured I would keep the project going. Apparently I do no think I do enough. So the first few of these Thoughts On's will be on 2014 albums, after that I will try to stay as current as possible.

THIS WEEK we are talking about Big K.R.I.T's 2014 album 'Cadillactica'. From here on I will be referring to the rapper as his real last name, Scott, because typing his stage name is a hassle. I heard this album as part of my mass consumption of 2014 rap and it was the album that caught me most by surprise (I know I have said this about the Pink Print but let me explain). I saw Scott Sophomore year in concert when he was opening up in Syracuse for Macklemore. I had never heard of him before and I was not impressed. The bass heavy over produced performance seemed to have no rhyme or reason and I could not make out any melody or lyrics. Writing this I can see how snobbish this sounds, but considering who I was waiting to see I expected a similar style (they brought out Talib Kweb after Scott and that was more my speed). After listening to this album I realized if I ever meet Scott in person than I owe him a huge apology.

This was one of the most acclaimed studio albums of last year and 30 seconds into the intro I could hear why. This man has master the art of blending smooth music with a fast lyrical style and has crafted an amazing album with it. The blues and jazz riddled album is built around the story of creating a planet (by the name of Cadillactica) and seems to chronicle its progress as its own world. The planet seems to be much like our own and Scott uses it to vent out his frustrations about what the mainstream media wants to see in his music. Granted this is my own interpretation, but Scott has had problems with his music for a awhile now. He is known as one of the best underground rappers in the game but has constantly experimented with sounds in order to be more appealing. After this album I hope that he continues to walk this path of music because this whole album feels surreal. Back in Cali I constanly drive around listening to new music just so I can listen in peace. Doing that with this album I literally felt as though I was drifting through space. In fact the title track of this album (surprise surprise Cadillactica) has been stuck in my head for about three weeks. It is the perfect blend of catchy and musical and hypes me up for life. Other songs such as “Angels” and “Do you love me” have soulful R&B undertones while Scott raps over them with his unique lyrical flair. In “Soul Food” you have him talking about the relatable past of children playing in a front year before a weekly family dinner, only then to go into how those times have passed and that same yard is now empty. Also in order to leave no questions unanswered he also abandons the same planet he just created in the albums last song “Lost Generations” featuring a very controversial Lupe Fiasco verse that you must hear for yourself. This album was clearly an important milestone in Scott's life and he has opened and shut this book before our very ears. This album is like a film, and not just because it was intended to feel that way, but rather because it is so good at subtly making you feel and get lost in its smooth instrumentation.

This album surprised me so much that I immediately made it my job to go through all of Scotts recent music and listen to as much of his work as I can. I found a song of his called “My Trunk” that I remember him performing in Syracuse simply because of the word trunk, and it sounds incredible in it's studio setting. I am a proud man but I am happy to admit when I am wrong and finding this album has helped personally inspire me. This man is as hard a worker as it goods, putting out consistent music while not getting any radio hits, experimenting wit his own sound while staying true to himself. I am not going to rate this album because any rating system I can think of will eventually be ruined with my bias so I will just suggest how you should listen to this. Either Listen Soon, Save for another day, or Skip altogether. Soon, Save, Or Skip. Simple as that. In the Case of Big K.R.I.T's 2014 Cadillactica I suggest you listen as Soon as possible. This album is incredible and deserves to be shared with as many people as possible.