Being a notable MC’s right hand man has always had its fair share of benefits. You get to tour, scoop up residual groupies and get your name hollered during roll call tracks. However, when it comes time to showcase skill under the spotlight of a solo album, few sidekicks have been able to measure up to their more famous counterparts. Big Kuntry King’s latest album, My Turn To Eat attempts to cash in on that Grand Hustle sound that has worked so well for Young Dro and T.I. Unfortunately, King’s lyrical skill and sub-par delivery render him unable to live up to other Grand Hustle releases.

With Grand Hustle’s name attached to the album, most listeners will know what to expect: heavy basslines, trunk rattling snares and hooks that will make you chant along with your chest out. The first song (after the annoyingly clichéd and humorless intro), “Tool In Da Pocket” follows through on that expectation. The roll your window down hard sound courtesy of Keith Mack does all of the work, requiring King to spit slow, simple bars without having to carry the song. Using this formula is where the album succeeds because, quite frankly, Big Kuntry King is a rather incapable MC. Songs like the Shawty Redd produced “We Here” and Marvelous J helmed “Yeah (I’m On It)” knock so viciously that King’s shortcomings can be overlooked.

When King is asked to carry a song with his flow is where the album fails. “Da Baddest” and “Love You the Right Way” are directed towards the ladies with the latter displaying King’s struggles to stay on beat while spouting lines like “grab that ass, grab them thighs like some vice grips/…It’s the Titanic, let me sink my ship/…I’ll make you moan and moan till your tooth chips.” Lyrics as such are better suited for a Pretty Ricky song than an actual rap album.

“Pots and Pans” and “Soul of a Man” are commendable efforts to step beyond just the trap and simplistic sound. “Soul of a Man” finds Kuntry King focused and dedicated to telling his story. His flawed rhyme scheme can be excused due to his vivid detail of mourning for his lost homies and corner lifestyle. “Pots and Pans” seeks to defend the South’s place in Hip-Hop. Unfortunately, Big Kuntry King does Southerners no favors by declaring “like a light switch/I’m tryin to keep the South on.”

My Turn To Eat has its fair share of stellar Grand Hustle production that make a few of the songs listenable. Unfortunately, King’s nasally delivery, off-beat flow and overly-simplistic rhymes detract from much of the album and utterly destroy the tracks that ask for him do display lyricism. A stellar guest spot from Young Dro and a hook from T.I. will only remind you how much better Grand Hustle can be. Hopefully, Big Kuntry King will feed us something more delectable next time around.

2 CIGARETTES

Previously Posted – “As Told To” – The Story Behind Big Kuntry King’s Album Cover | “Player’s Lifestyle…”