“Air Jordan” – Review Of The Kid Daytona’s Come Fly With Me

ALBUM REVIEWS    By Patrick M. on July 14, 2009 at 7:39 pm

Free is the new $9.99. In the past, a free album giveaway from an artist raised red flags, implying substandard material unworthy of the Sam Goody. But in 2009, with mixtapes, Rapidshare and downloadable singles threatening to kill albums, giving away a full-length under the auspices of name recognition is a good strategy. The key is, can you deliver the goods to turn heads? On Kid Daytona’s Come Fly With Me, the answer is an emphatic yes. Combining modern sounding beats with a never-ending flow of punchlines, he’s made a project that’s certain to satisfy his fans and win over new ones.

What’s most impressive about Come Fly With Me is its consistency; there’s nary a weak track to be found over the album’s 14 cuts. Kid Daytona proves himself to be fully adept at the varying styles of backpack infused pop-rap. The boppin’ bass of “The Groove,” reflects his past tributes to Tribe, and he aptly “takes the bassline like Paul Pierce.,” while Mickey Factz plays Phife to good effect. “Contact,” melds wordplay with stuttering speeds as Daytona flows easily over a Dancehall beat. TDKs best chance at scoring a “Best I Ever Had,” breakout is the infectious “Eye Know.” The re-imagination of De La 20 years on is the perfect summer Hip-Hop ballad, as Daytona urges his lady to forget her winter flame so he can “love her better.”

While the production makes your head nod so much you’ll need a rubdown from a Cooler girl, the one weakness to Come Fly With Me, is an excess of polish on the beats. Thematically this fits, as the opener “Air Jordan” states: Kid Daytona is here to “touch the sky,” and spacey, synthy beats add to the airy feel of the project. But you’d like to hear Kid Daytona get dirty just once. He’s not above calling out enemies or adding some fierceness to his rhymes on “Honestly,” but there’s a little too much fancy engineer work and 80’s guitars in the beat, that tempers the effect of his lyrics. Only closer “Air Born,” manufactures some danger with a muted steel drum and a little Southern swagger from Bun B.

Even if The Bronx has gone retro-pop, Kid Daytona spits lines and word play that would do his forebearers proud. “The Minimum,” showcases Daytona at his cocky best: “Nobody flyer man/my girl fly too she’s my co-pi-o-lit/oh they mad cause I’m stylin’/no, don’t be made UPS is hiring/I’m on a bunch of slim skin diet plans/so much kicks around the house I should wear karate pants/for a hobby son, keep your baby momma skatin’ like Palin/she’s my Hockey Mom.” In addition to the aforementioned ballads and party jams he’s capable of introspection. “In the Wind,” is an open examination of mortality and choices made in life, while “Right Now Till Then,” eloquently touches on the struggles of the creative process.

To quote the sublime “Twilight,” Kid Daytona’s “full retard when he goes in,” whether the album’s free or not. If he keeps making albums like Come Fly With Me, people will be happy to fork over the dough for the next one.

Download — The Kid Daytona – Come Fly With Me

Watch — 6th Sense On Making “Air Born”

Previously Posted — “The Daytona 500″

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, GENERAL, MUSIC, STRAY SHOTS, WE GOT NOW — Tags: 6th Sense, Come Fly With Me, Double-O, Kardinal Offishall, The Kid Daytona