The Predatory Wasp
Of the two rap albums released last week that I paid attention to – the other being 6LACK’s Since I Have A Lover – Kota The Friend’s To See A Sunset is definitely the most fun. I think I’ve used the word ‘breezy’ every time I’ve posted about his music, and I see no reason to break that habit here. Breeeeezy!
https://kotathefriendofficial.bandcamp.com/album/to-see-a-sunset-explicit
Kota The Friend’s Lyrics to GO started life as a visual project that Kota released as episodes via YouTube, due to Kota’s lack of funds for shooting music videos alongside a desire to increase social media visibility as an independent artist. I’m not sure whether this is still the case – the latest drop Vol.4 doesn’t seem to have any accompanying music videos as yet – but the tracks keep coming; rarely clocking in over two minutes, yet always as fresh and engaging as you’d expect.
I think I’ve used the word “breezy” to describe Kota The Friend’s music every time I’ve written about it, and I’ve been sitting here for about 20 minutes trying think think of a more appropriate term. I do not believe one exists. Just listen to those playfully skipping drums! The jauntiness of the keys! The effortless of his delivery! The airhorns!!(!) Everything about it makes me wan bounce gently from side to side while softly grinning. Breezy AF.
Kota The Friend’s wonderful 2020 album Everything really didn’t get the attention it deserves. Not that it seems to have affected his disposition, which is as sunny as ever on his latest mixtape Lyrics To GO, Vol.2, a collection of sub-2 minute tracks clocking in at an incredibly manageable 15 minutes. 200 Dollars is like everything else on there: brief and breezy with KTF’s silky smooth flows leading the way.
The Predatory Wasp 