Everything / Kota the Friend / May 22, 2020
- Joshua Yoo
- May 25, 2020
- 1 min read
Updated: Sep 13, 2020
Just four months after the release of his previous project, Kota the Friend capitalizes on his momentum with “Everything,” his third, independently released album that sees Kota at his greatest musical and personal maturity to date.
The muted electric guitar and lofi production throughout most of the album is derivative of his previous albums, Kota opting to maintain the chilled and laidback tone that suits his style of rap so seamlessly. However, some of the instrumentals are admittedly more colorful and bold, utilizing sounds and textures that conceptually complement the messages of the songs (“Long Beach”).
The guiding concept for the album is plainly simple: what means everything to you. Yet Kota is able to lyrically expand on this simple concept in a way that makes the album feel personable and intimate for his listeners, touching on aspects of his life that mean everything to him, including his family (“Seven (Interlude)”), his hometown (“B.Q.E”), and his pursuit of happiness and meaningful existence (“Always”). He also displays his technical skills in both his songwriting and vocal delivery, showing his diversified ability in pulling off different flows and creating different moods throughout the course of the track list.
At its core, “Everything” is a cohesively constructed project that artfully conveys its heartfelt message of love through skillful lyricism and thoughtfully curated production from Kota the Friend. And for any fans of lyrical rap, this album will mean everything to them.
Best Track(s): Summerhouse, Away Park, Mi Casa, B.Q.E, Long Beach, Always
Lowlight(s): Volvo
SCORE: 8/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvH1_9tuZcI
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