Big K.R.I.T. Previews His Cadillactica Album and It’s Among His Best Work

With his new album Cadillactica, Big K.R.I.T. Is on another planet…literally. K.R.I.T. played portions of the album publicly for the first time today (9/30) for a select group of journalists and other media partners. What he unveiled is quite possibly his finest work to date.

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K.R.I.T. opened the session for approximately 40 people by explaining the concept and title of the album. From the outset, he made it clear that in the year and a half since the release of his King Remembered in Time mixtape, he has grown considerably both as a person and as an artist. He believed it was important to reflect this growth in his art and, in order to do so, he needed to go beyond the restraints of typical album and even worldly conventions. To tell the story of not only his recent growth but his entire life journey until now, he created a new planet, Cadillactica, to serve as a metaphor.

From the outset of the album, K.R.I.T. takes his listeners on a journey to Cadillactica, starting with its creation. Cadillactica represents all of the things that are important to K.R.I.T.–Southern culture, Funk, Soul, lyricism, family, God…As the album progresses, the perspective changes from that of a younger, more brash and carefree K.R.I.T. to that of a grown man with grown man responsibilities. By the end, we meet the fully matured, present-day K.R.I.T. and learn what we’ve heard from him to date is just the beginning. His discography and life are just starting to unfold. What happens between the start and end points of the album are a diverse array of sonic textures and deft lyrics, ranging from introspective to flexing.

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Below is the tracklist as well as descriptions of some of the songs K.R.I.T. played. We’ll keep it brief, so as to leave some surprises but on November 11, get ready to experience a different level from the King Remembered In Time.

1. Kreation (Intro): From the outset K.R.I.T. let’s your eardrums know that growth does not mean abandonment. Despite the fact that he shares production responsibilities with other producers on this album, rest assured the funk and soul that have rooted K.R.I.T.’s sound remain. In addition to setting the tone, “Kreation” also depicts the creation of the planet Cadillactica.

2. Life

3. My Sub, Pt. 3 (Big Bang): Some believe planets were started by Creation. Others, believe it was a Big Bang. Cadillactica provides both. “My Sub, Pt. 3 (Big Bang)” packs enough 808 boom to rattle the sturdiest of trunks. Fortify your speakers before pressing play on this one.

4. Cadillactica

5. Soul Food: One of the album’s many standout cuts, “Soul Food” is produced by and features Raphael Saadiq. As you would expect from a Soul survivor like Saadiq, the song is long on that old school Soul feel.

6. Pay Attention: Rather than play the album’s first single again, K.R.I.T. treated the audience to a preview of the video for the Rico Love-assisted cut. The visuals drive home the fact that Krizzle is no longer a young’un anymore. He’s moved from the strip clubs to an environment that is more grown…but still sexy.

7. King of the South: This song sounds exactly like the title reads. K.R.I.T. is out to make a statement that he stands with not only the best lyricists of the South, but in all of Hip-Hop. This song was written post-“Control” and showcases K.R.I.T.’s prodigious skills as a Rapper’s Rapper. If you think he flexed on “Mt. Olympus,” just wait until you hear this…

8. Mind Control: K.R.I.T. teased the audience with this one. He introduced the record as featuring verses from E-40 and Wiz Khalifa, along with vocals from Joi (the Dungeon Family affiliate). He faded out just as 40 was about to drop his verse, but promised it will be worth the wait.

9. Standby (Interlude): “Standby” represents the midpoint of the album both in terms of timing and perspective. It is here that K.R.I.T. makes a lyrical and sonic shift from the perspective of a young man to one who has lived and now has something to lose.

10. Do You Love Me: What would your car say if it could talk to you? Imagine if all you talked about was your sub-woofer…

11. Third Eye

12. Mo Better Cool

13. Angels

14. Saturdays = Celebration: As some of the lyrical references on “Saturdays = Celebration” allude, this might just be K.R.I.T.’s “Jesus Walks.” Punctuated by choral flourishes and a BIG arrangement, the track is downright heavenly as K.R.I.T. waxes introspectively about his knowledge that tomorrow is not guaranteed and his desire to make sure his loved ones are secure in the event of his demise. These are heady thoughts for grown folks.

15. Lost Generation: 2 words…Lupe Fiasco. The final song on Cadillactica is about “out with the old and in with the new.” If you think you’ve heard it all from Big K.R.I.T., think again. He’s just getting started.

Related: DJ OHSO Releases a Mix of Big K.R.I.T. Music as a Prelude to Cadillactica (Audio)