Kodak Black
An Artist Review
Kodak Black as an Artist
Kodak is a very playful and silly rapper. He has a very unique voice and flow that’s not for everyone. Kodak is also a new rapper, but although he’s pretty new to the game, I think he has finally found his artistic style and voice. His first couple projects were pretty bad, and only had a couple catchy or decent songs, but his new stuff is definitely an improvement. Also, I’m really only doing a review on him because a friend of mine requested it. But, I do think doing a review on Kodak could be interesting.
Heart of the Projects (2014)
Although this mixtape wasn’t a bad start for Kodak, it definitely wasn’t any of his best work. The production on this tape is all cliché trap instrumentals, and isn’t anything special. The only things on this tape that are good are Kodak’s hooks and his delivery on songs like Benji’s, Kill the Best, and Skrt. It’s overall a pretty mediocre project but it’s not that bad.
Album Grade: 5/10
Institution (2015)
This project by Kodak is worse than Heart of the Projects. He sounds lazier, less motivated, and his lyrics aren’t as good, either. This album is way too long, and he could have cut the entire thing in half. The only song that’s somewhat catchy or easy to listen to is Like Dat. For the rest of this album, you’d have to really like Kodak to listen to it, or maybe some of them would fit right for a night out or a party, but that’s about it.
Album Grade: 3.5/10
Lil Big Pac (2016)
This album was my least favorite rap album of 2016. I hated this album when I first heard it, and I still hate it today. The production is a little bit better on some tracks on this album, even though most of the producers on it are pretty mediocre and unknown. Kodak has a nice flow on Vibin in this Bih, Purp, and Young Prodigy, but on the rest of this project he’s lazy, and the entire thing sounds like it was made very quickly.
Album Grade: 3/10
Painting Pictures (2017)
Kodak Black did a great job with this album. He finally found his voice, and his style, and made a pretty solid album that has great production, great hooks, and great features. I love all the beats on this album, especially the beats for Coolin and Booted, Twenty 8, Patty Cake, Tunnel Vision, Top Off Benz, and There He Go. DJ Khaled, Nav, Southside, Metro Boomin, and Ben Billions are all producers on this album, and due to the change in producers for most of this album, it definitely sounds more professional. I love how this album sounds very silly, but in a good way. The beats are just right for Kodak’s personality and Kodak’s hooks are a lot more catchy on here, too. Overall, this album is Kodak’s best work, and I hope he continues to make solid music like this in the future.
Album Grade: 7/10
Kodak’s Singles and Features
After reviewing all of Kodak’s work to this day, I also want to talk about his singles that he’s released in his career, and why I like his singles more than his entire projects. One of Kodak’s first singles, that is still one of his best songs to this day, is Skrt. Skrt is a very catchy song, and his lyrics on it are relatable and hilarious. The production sounds very good with a moody instrumental that fits well and bumps, too. No Flockin is the second single that he’s released, and this song is a banger. The production and lyricism sounds very nice on this track and it might be my favorite Kodak Black song. There He Go and Tunnel Vision are the next two singles that he’s released in this past year, and they’re both pretty good, but I’m pretty much sick of Tunnel Vision by now, because the hook and performance by Kodak can get kind of annoying on that track. I also love Kodak’s features on songs like Lockjaw by French Montana, and Drowning by A Boogie Wit da Hoodie. On these songs and the rest of Kodak’s features, Kodak brings a great personality to the track and makes it sound better than it would be without him.