IMAGE COURTESY OF BET
Big K.R.I.T. should be so prominent that an artist spotlight on him would be unnecessary. He should be an artist with the same reach as artists like Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole. Poor management by his former label stunted the growth of the Big K.R.I.T. brand, and left him in a weird gray area in regards to his relevancy. K.R.I.T. has a large fanbase and is far above the underground artist status, but he lacked the overall pull that some of his peers have. With the release of his double album, 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time, Big K.R.I.T. has put hip-hop fans on notice and shows everyone he deserves to be considered a top tier hip-hop artist.
Big K.R.I.T gained momentum through the release of various mixtapes, and it became very clear that he was a special talent. However, his debut album left a lot to be desired and his other album releases were good but not great. K.R.I.T.’s inability to connect on his albums could be linked to his label at the time, Def Jam Recordings. K.R.I.T. had everything you wanted in a hip-hop artist from versatility to style, but it seemed it all never came together on an album. Freeing himself from Def Jam seemed to be the answer as this latest release showcases all the the skills in Big K.R.I.T.’s catalogue.
K.R.I.T. embraces his southern roots from the accent in his voice as he raps to the production he puts together for his songs. He uses his ability to produce, rap, and sing to create a variety of songs. From southern bangers to reflections on him and his career to church-inspired tracks, K.R.I.T. provides the variety necessary to make sure things never get dull. He always makes for an interesting listen and can give you a lot of substance, whether that be commentary on others or himself. 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time is a double album that highlights all of the things that make K.R.I.T. great, but that greatness can be seen in a lot of his mixtapes and in flashes on some of his albums. It might have taken a might long time, but it is safe to say Big K.R.I.T. has arrived, not just as the “King of the South” but possibly as the “King of Hip-Hop”.