Uncaged. Unleashed. Wild and free. Kenny Mason’s 9 is everything it needs to be and more.
Revealing the first two tracks off the LP “JUMPIN IN” and “US” just nine days (March 5) from its release on March 14, the 9-cut opus is potent platter of Mason’s niche versatility. Featuring Veeze, BabyDrill and Toro Y Moi, the Atlanta star continues to brand himself as a dynamic alt-voice with an affinity for deep, narrative driven lyrics, much like on career-defining highlights “CHOSEN,” “SLIP” and “MONEY SIGNS.”
One of its two lead tracks, “JUMPIN IN,” produced by right hand man Coupe, embodies the sample-clad mold set by previous hits in “SHELL” and “RICH,” exuding another reflective narrative on Mason’s come-up in his hometown of Atlanta. “Bitch I had to wrestle with an Angel by the seaside, Daddy didn’t want me hanging with him, I can see why / Learned about the Killers I know what it take to be one, I learned without the trigger finger you can’t make the peace sign,” Mason raps, juxtaposing these intense feelings with raw emotion on “US.”
Heavy metal is Mason’s forte, clashing the stark, gritty elements of grunge guitars with Nirvana-esque low croons and tenacity that catches all attention; heard on “US,” “MONEY SIGNS” and “FEEL IT.” However, triumphant sample-clad diary entries (“LUMINOUS”), hard-hitting Atlanta trap (“EASY DUB”) and out-of-left-field hits that recall lost memories through a ghostly voice (“SLIP”) all reassert Kenny Mason’s role as rap’s true chosen one — whether you realize it or not.
The final iteration of Mason’s odd-numbered album series started with 3 on March 3, 2023 and 6 on June 6, 2023. 9 was originally slated for release later that year (September 2023), but Kenny spent these extra months fine-tuning the remainder of the LP. Combining 3, 6 and 9, the cascaded sequenced album holds 18 tracks across all efforts. He shared a short EP “Highway 9” in the interim.
Mason’s knack for world-building stems from his debut mixtape Angelic Hoodrat and last full-length LP RUFFS, apparent on the coinciding visual for “JUMPIN IN.” His work with JID (“Just In Time,” “Dance Now”) and J. Cole (“STICK”) elevated Mason to a new echelon of alt-rap stars, which is what will make 9 all the more momentous.
If his 2019 breakout hit “Hit” wasn’t telling of his future, it certainly serves as an example of manifest destiny.
Listen to ‘9’ below!