Kodak Black has returned to put his stamp on 2022, releasing his fifth overall studio album and second of the year Kutthroat Bill: Vol. 1 on Oct. 28.
After a strong start to the year with his LP Back For Everything (Feb. 25) and his hit single “Super Gremlin” — which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and won BET Song Of The Year — Black has found his way back to superstardom.
Kutthroat Bill: Vol. 1 see’s Yak exploring his recent run-ins with the law and the controversy surrounding his actions. Along with that, the Florida rapper unapologetically addresses his fallen friends, creating emotionally driven tracks that allow his signature laid back flow to shine.
The project contains 19 songs and features previously released singles including the Metro Boomin produced “I’m So Awesome” and two-pack “Walk/Spin.” Utilizing an array of trap inspired drum patterns over synths, strings and piano loops, Black searches for peace through the madness of what is his reality.
On the seventeenth track “Freezing My Pinky,” Yak shifts between a few different styles, starting the song sounding unenthused then turning up the energy as he expresses his love/hate relationship with being an emotional street rapper. In contrast, songs like “Walk” and “Spin” see him double down on being cold-hearted and ready to “step” on anything in his way. Among these many song topics, Black also pays his respects to Future on the track “Game From Pluto.”
“Hop Out Shoot” takes a different approach as well, with Yak beginning with a conversation between him and his girl, as he eventually goes off with cutthroat lyrics about shooting his enemies. Earlier in the album on the fourth song “If You Ever,” he impressively pairs a smooth beat with his raw raps and sly gangsta lyrics.
Livin’ the life, they don’t wanna see me fly, they wanna see me die
Diamonds gleamin’, they don’t wanna see me cheesin’, they wanna see me cry
Disrespect me, I’ma take the Fendi off and I’ma slide
I’m a differеnt kind of n***a, I can’t be stopped, I can’t be clonеd
Kodak Black — If You Ever
While Back For Everything showed Black’s maturity over the past couple years of being locked up, Kutthroat Bill: Vol.1 sees the 25-year old further develop his story telling — not only conveying thoughtful messages but pushing himself to become one of the best lyricists of his generation.
Completely taking over 2022 with these two projects and an array of features on prominent albums from Future to Kendrick Lamar, it doesn’t look like he is going to slow down anytime soon.
Listen to Kodak Black’s ‘Kutthroat Bill: Vol. 1’ below!
