Before writing this review, I really thought intensely about how I was going to approach reviewing a rap album. My biggest challenge in reviewing Killer Mike's R.A.P. Music was this whole situation right here:
Street cred not pictured
This was something I actually felt I needed to account for in order to present this review. I realize that there is a large cultural gulf between me and Killer Mike, which sometimes makes me cringe at his ghetto repping, and it also can make it difficult to appreciate the magnitude of the political and social problems that Mike discusses in this work. Despite this, I did really enjoy this album. With these things in mind, I present you Killer Mike's R.A.P. Music. Brace yourself, it's a long one.
This album's opener "Big Beast" really starts it off on the right foot. The first line "Hard core G shit, homie I don't play around..." should give you a good idea of what is to come. It's incredibly aggressive and the percussion, which moves double time for most of the song, really helps bring the fire. The guest spots on this track from Bun-B, T.I., and Trouble all completely nail their verses with ease of the seasoned veterans they are. Mike holds his own with these other hip hop stars, which should be expected as this is his sixth album.
The high energy powerhouse keeps up all the way through to the track "Reagan" which exchanges the energy for a simmering anger and hatred for Ronald Reagan, and the system of economics he spawned. After Mike finishes repping the south and his ghetto style, he really surprised me by delivering some incredibly self aware lines about the rap community:
"So it seems our people starve from lack of understanding
Cause all we seem to give them is some balling and some dancing
And some talking about our car and imaginary mansions
We should be indicted for bullshit we inciting"
This track also has some searing critiques of the war on drugs. This song is quite similar in intention to the next song, "Don't Die" which is about shooting some crooked cops, who break into his house without a warrant. In this song, Mike also reveals that his dad was a cop, which is not something just any thug would do, and it really starts to reveal the depth of Mikes character. He is a thug, he is political, he is a southern gentleman, and he is so much more.
The diverse range of material that Mike is able to discuss on this album is what ends up being the cherry on top of the crisp production by EL-P, and Mike's consistently large and infectious presence on all the tracks. He talks about feeling like an outcast in his early life for reading a lot, comparing his life in the streets to being Jack in The Lord of the Flies on "Willie Burke Sherwood". He also talks about being a southern man, which is a large part of his identity causing him to carry a "blunt and a bible and gun..." in "Southern Fried." On top of this, Mike is very reflective and honest about his life decisions, both positive and negative, which is another admirable quality of his music.
Religion also plays a major role in Mike's music even if "(He's) never really had a religious experience in a religious place." Songs like "Southern Fried," "Ghetto Gospel," and the closer "R.A.P. Music" have very religious themes, and the church organs and hand claps have a very southern Baptist feel to them. In the closer, Mike discusses how rap music is his religion, and I would agree. This album is infused with a certain integrity and ferocity that one could only expect from a person totally devoted to their craft like Mike clearly is.
This album is fantastic. From wall to wall, every song is brimming with good lyrics, tight rhyme schemes, and I haven't even had a chance to really discuss EL-P's amazing beats that back each song. There is no dead space or downtime anywhere on this entire album, which can make it feel tiring after a little while, but Mike's constantly engaging lyrics will keep you testifying and nodding along all the way through. Amen.
