Ken Carson continues to defy expectations, evolving into one of the most innovative and sought-after emcees of our generation over the past few years. Albums like Project X and X not only have sparked the Atlanta rapper’s dominance in new wave circles, but have garnered an undeniable movement in the mainstream—supported by label mates in Homixide Gang, Destroy Lonely and Playboi Carti.
A GREAT CHAOS has become the career-defining moment for Carson up until this point, achieving the highest chart placements for any Opium artist (outside of Carti) with his latest effort. Sharing its 7-track deluxe in July, Carson continues the garner greater aura and outgrow his underground roots ahead of his next album, MORE CHAOS, this Halloween (or so he teased).
A sold out CHAOS world tour is more than enough to let the world know of his arrival. But in this iteration of RANKED, we look at our Top 5 tracks off Carson’s A GREAT CHAOS, and how each have impacted Ken’s career.
Listen to ‘A GREAT CHAOS (DELUXE)’ below!
ALT TOP 5 (Honorable Mentions): “Like This” (feat. Destroy Lonely & Lil Uzi Vert), “Me N My Kup,” “It’s Over,” “Singapore” (feat. Destroy Lonely), “leather jacket”
5. “overseas”
To say that performing “overseas” overseas at Rolling Loud EU (among the plethora of European festivals going on this summer) is a full circle moment worth remembering. As the lead single for the AGC deluxe, “overseas” isn’t just one of many Ken Carson hits, it’s one that sticks out amongst the rest with ease. Yes, “Rock N Roll,” “Yale” and “Freestyle 2” still are “the ones” for Day 1 Ken fans. But when considering that “overseas” is one of Ken’s most streamed songs only five months after its release is a testament to his stratospheric star power, proving to be the breaking point for his blazing mainstream allure.
4. “Succubus”
As one of the hardest, and most intricate, beats on the entire record, “Succubus” sees Carson body a different pocket comparative to the rest of the CHAOS he consumes himself in. Dark distortion is where Ken thrives, but moody, maniacal and sub-heavy synth-tones dominate the vibe of “Succubus”—almost as if it casts a spell over you. In its clutches, Ken Carson’s melodic drawl brings you deeper into the depths of hell. It’s one Ken’s most enticing, swaggy and interesting songs of his catalog, most deserving of a Top 5 spot in my book.
3. “Fighting My Demons”
For obvious reasons, “Fighting My Demons” is another glaring example of Ken’s overarching reach in the rap game. Marked by its villainous allure and energetic, forward-thinking production, the Opium trendsetter continued his takeover with a Lyrical Lemonade visual a first of its kind (dropping on Halloween night). The eerie, haunting video depicts Carson through a series of staticky, control room monitors, surrounded by bloodied walls captured through night vision lenses—fighting the demons that consume him. A black Lyrical Lemonade logo is fitting for the occasion—and the artist who is truly a master of dark, demonic soundscapes. This song is inescapable, and undoubtedly one of Ken’s best (and most impactful) of his career.
2. “ss”
If you weren’t a fan of Sydney Sweeney before this dropped, there’s no doubt you are one now. As a song that’s set the internet ablaze over the past few weeks quickly crept up our list, let alone the No. 2 spot, the long-anticipated track has been teased for years prior to its release this month. It was a momentous occasion for fans who eagerly waited for “ss” to drop, and it definitely lived up to the hype.
“My white hoe got big t*ts, she remind me of Sydney Sweeney,” Carson raps with thick autotune, as the beat-switch and uncapped energy could turn any mosh-pit into a war zone (be safe on that CHAOS WORLD tour). Nevertheless, “ss” isn’t just a viral moment in multiple niches, it’s one that Ken Carson expertly doubled down on when the time was right. It also helps that the song is as much of a W as Syd herself.
1. “Jennifer’s Body”
An immediate reference to Megan Fox’s 2004 horror-comedy Jennifer’s Body, Ken Carson did something special with this song. As an integral part of the A GREAT CHAOS rollout, “Jennifer’s Body” embodies the album’s entire aesthetic: flexing money, sex, drugs in the open for all to take in. Ultimately, Ken “keeps it 100” over blitzing melodies and sinister 808s—being a mainstay in our rotation since it was initially teased last summer. It’s edgy, energetic and quintessentially Ken Carson in every regard. There isn’t an A GREAT CHAOS song that’s been played more than “Jennifer’s Body” for me. If you disagree, let us know in the comments what YOUR No. 1 AGC track is!