Review Summary: I guess the story of a country boy just ain't compelling
There’s something to be said for delivery. Not so much Mississippi native Big K.R.I.T.’s drawl-drench molasses flow--though it is exceptional--more so how he utilizes his voice and rhyme schemes posturing them against his self-produced beats. Whether it be a soulful banger sopping with soul-samples and blaring horns (“R4 Theme Song,” “Rotation,” & “Sookie Now”) or an introspective slow burner like the twinkly “King’s Blues” or the menacing “American Rapstar” and “ Made A lot.” Adhering his cleverly woven tales of Southern living, classic rides, giant booties and even bigger sub woofers pitch perfectly to
ReturnOf4eva’s beat palette. More importantly though is how jovial K.R.I.T. makes everything sound. From his lamentations of his woes on the road to success (the excellent “Dreamin’”) to a provocative night out at the strip club (“Shake It.”)
ReturnOf4eva is celebration of life though, as opposed to a declaration of excess. K.R.I.T. is reveling in his arrival to a place he has worked endlessly to reach.
What’s most exciting about this, his seventh mixtape, and first since signing to Def Jam is just how much potential there is still to work with. Make no mistake though
ReturnOf4eva is a more a carefully planned out, complete record than a haphazard mixtape but it leaves you feeling there is still so much more for K.R.I.T. to do.
“The Radio won’t play the *** I used to love/Or maybe I’m just growning up” K.R.I.T. relays on “The Vent” a gorgeous back-ender that reads more like a set piece for his impending career than a sendoff for the album.
“Hope you understand/what I'm goin’ through/Hope you understand/when I call out for you” he later continues. If K.R.I.T. keeps pumping out such likable music as easy to fall right into as his previous two mixtapes--I don’t think it will be too hard for us to understand at all.
