Was a 6pc Enough?: “6pc Hot EP” Review

By Courtney Fields

R&B’s favorite crooner is finally back. Fresh off of a 2-year hiatus (as far as projects are concerned), 6lack has delivered his new “6pc Hot EP” fresh at our doorsteps. The Atlanta native has returned with his smooth, reverb-ridden vocals, with a side of bars. A set of songs that’s perfect for those late, summer night drives, with the windows down… I know you know exactly what I mean. 

“ATL Freestyle” was the EP’s only single, it sort of got lost in the whirlwind of events that were happening on, and prior to the songs release date: May 28th, 2020. Along with the song, 6lack gave us yet another reason to stan, providing fans with a message that clearly stated his stance on what his people, Black people face day in and day out.

6lack wrote: “A few words… With the amount of pain & anger, I feel in my heart, releasing a new song at this very moment doesn’t feel like a great priority.Nothing ever prepares you for how to feel when you’re constantly faced with the last dying breaths of Black people, my people, on your television or phone screens every day.”

See the rest of 6lack’s message to the people here. “ATL Freestyle” is one of my favorite songs of the year, it’s a mirror of exactly what I think perfect music is; slow, a mixture of singing and rapping, sad and brash lyrics. It is a “B-side” track, like most of 6lack’s music. The song could fit on Tha Carter II, an album full of B-sides… it’s also one of the few perfect albums if you weren’t aware. 

“Long Nights” is the EP’s second track, and it’s a perfect description for all those sneaky link ups you freaks were doing during quarantine. At its core, “Long Nights” is about a relationship that could last one night, or many. Ari Lennox’s background vocals take the track to a whole new level.

Track 3, “Float” may just be one of the best songs that sum up 2020 so far. Generally, everyone is trying to “stay afloat” but 2020 has been one of the more ruthless years in the 21st century. 6lack speaks on all of the adversity he’s faced in his life up to now. “I gotta put my shit back on track / Been down bad too many times / Know that it’s bad, but it’ll be fine”. He even mentions the racial tensions in America, “It's a big war goin' on outside / Grab your lover, time to slide”. In the midst of COVID-19, civil unrest, and his own personal struggles; all 6lack asks of his presumed partner on this song is for her to love him through it all “Make sure you love me ‘fore the world go out in flames”.

“Know My Rights” ft. Lil Baby is one of those songs that makes you recall the days when 6lack was a battle rapper. The two Atlanta natives rap about the extraordinary amount of fame, and riches they’ve managed to get. They make sure to remind us that they’re self-made men as well, so they tend to shy away from the opinions of others. It’s not often you hear 6lack flex on his songs, so this type of track fit perfect with a Lil Baby feature. 

In “Elephant In The Room”, 6lack is having an argument with a significant other who’s questioning his motives within their relationship, and they’re not sure the rapper’s priorities are in check. Rather than get nowhere with small talk, 6lack lays it all on the line, “You ask me if I'm choosin' my dreams over you, I said, ‘Hell, yeah’ / “I got so much love I can show, but I got so much shit left to do” / “Say what's on my mind don't make me choose, I might piss you off”. The “Elephant” is the issue the two of them have clearly been avoiding for some time now, and it seems to be 6lack’s music career, something he’d never give up on since he’s been chasing it all his life. 

I never thought there would be a way to make the end of quarantine (COVID-19) sound romantic, but sure enough here 6lack is with a post-virus ballad. 6lacks sings about going outside to play again in almost every other bar on track 6, ”Outside”. He reminisces the days where he was able to be with his lover physically, with no fear of getting each other sick. 

So, was a 6pc enough? I’d say so, the project is short but the quality of the tracks makes up for the lack of tracks. 6pc Hot EP may be the only project out right now that sums up almost everyone’s lives at the moment. Quarantine has many of us fairly lonely, not seeing our friends and significant other as much as we want (“Outside”), the civil unrest in America has kept anyone with a single shred of compassion spending days thinking about how fucked up this country is, and in turn trying to find a way to find some peace within all of the chaos (“Float”), and by spending most of our days at home, coupled with everything going on with the world there have been ample opportunities for the door to be opened to some tough conversations (“Elephant In The Room”).

Favorite tracks

Float

Long Nights

Know My Rights (Feat. Lil Baby)

Rating: 8

Listen to 6pc Hot EP here:

Listen to 6pc Hot EP on Spotify. 6LACK · Single · 2020 · 6 songs.

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Introducing Atlanta’s Next Superstar: ‘Angelic Hoodrat’ Album Review

By Spencer Lobdell

Photo by Nasser Boulaich

Meet Kenny Mason, the Atlanta newcomer who is undoubtedly next up in the long line of hip-hop greatness from down south. While the majority of the world was introduced to Kenny last October when his break-out single “Hit” was released on streaming services, his debut album Angelic Hoodrat has actually been in production for three years. The fact that Kenny was willing to spend that much time on his debut album reflects an uncommon self-belief that is the first of many signs of greatness Mason displays on his debut record.

At its core, Kenny Mason’s Angelic Hoodrat is a story of duality, a slightly more sinister version of the good kid m.A.A.d city archetype entailing an individual who desires more than anything to do good but is constantly pushed to their limit and forced to act based on their overly toxic environment. The story is one told before, but one Kenny tells with more conviction and authenticity than his predecessors. Not only is it clear that Kenny has already seen more in his 25 years of life than most were meant to in their entire earthly journey, but he posses the rare ability to articulate these emotions in such a palpable way creating a deeply moving experience for those who have lived through similar tribulations and invaluable perspectives for those who haven’t even come close.

Listeners are alerted of Mason’s potential greatness from his very first quatrain as he opens his album with a line about the gut-wrenching paranoia that constantly coincides with being black in America (Sorry mama, I can not show weakness/Niggas walkin' round macho, my thoughts on defense/Paranoia make me talk slow, freezin' on the walk home/Freezin' when the cops show heaters, go figure).

Right from the jump it’s obvious that listeners need to fasten their seatbelt for the wild ride Kenny is preparing to take us on. Lyrical excellence is far from an anomaly on the tape as we are presented with deeply poetic and enticing songwriting at every turn on Angelic Hoodrat. On the fourth track “Lean” Mason concludes his first verse with a dazzling display of introspective wordplay (Speaking spiritual/I see a mirror and see a miracle when I reflect/I think of where I was at a year ago/Knowing where it’ll go/Still be wishin that I was at wherever you at). Kenny’s pen is years beyond his age and he’s already doing things on his debut album that are far beyond the threshold of many people making millions rapping.

Mason is far from a one trick pony though as the way he delivers these lines is equally as impressive as what the bars actually say. Whether Mason is relaxed and rapping in a somber and almost apologetic tone (“Firestarter” & “Once Again”), doing his best Denzel Curry impression and assaulting your ears through an aggressive in-your-face style (“PTSD” & “Metal Wings”), or living out his rock band dreams through a punk rock inspired sound that Mason credits to the legendary Pixies, on each song Kenny consciously picks a different style that fits the track. Not only does this deviation of style keep things super interesting, but it allows Kenny to connect with his lyrics on a deeper level resulting in each song being delivered in a way that makes you believe every word that Mason sings and raps.

Throughout the Angelic Hoodrat, Kenny uses his convincing delivery to disseminate two main emotions to his listeners: perpetual sadness and chaotic terror. Only once on the album does Mason depart from these themes and the result is my favorite track on the album, “Chevron”. This bright track showcases all of Mason’s aforementioned strengths along with potentially his best hook on the record. This song carries the same triumphant energy as much of the music of fellow southerner Big K.R.I.T, an energy that is hard to match and impossible to follow.

The wide array of influences that Kenny cited on his recent press run is apparent on Angelic Hoodrat as very few songs are able to be categorized as one specific genre. Taking genre-mashing to the extreme, Kenny mainly incorporates aspects of rap music of the 2010s and the post-punk movement of the 1990s in his music while sprinkling in bits of R&B and punk rock as well.

Mason doesn’t simply explore punk influences to be different though, as the 25-year-old artist showcases a serious vocal range that isn’t seen in his rap music. Some of the more rock-influenced tracks shine through as his most personal tracks on the album leading me to wonder if Mason actually plays the guitar and wrote these chords as well. Due to Kenny’s lyrical ability, his capacity to transmit emotion, and his post-punk sound, it’s impossible not to wonder if Angelic Hoodrat might be our best guess at what the rumored rock-influenced upcoming Kendrick Lamar album might sound like.

While Angelic Hoodrat is great, it’s not perfect. With this being his debut project, it’s a given that the 25-year-old is still trying to exactly find his sound. This leads to him flying too closely to the styles of others for my taste on a couple tracks. On the third track “PTDS” I swear Kenny Mason is actually Baby Keem at 1:14. “Metal Wings” is a little too Denzel Curry for me in the first verse. The ad-libs on “U in a Gang” are so Trippie Redd it distracts me from what is otherwise an excellent song. With this being said, Kenny is extremely good at impersonating these artists making these moments enjoyable, but with potential like his, he’d be a fool to imitate anyone but Kenny Mason.

In my opinion, Mason’s debut album is the second true break-out project of the year (the first being Take Time by Giveon), launching Kenny into the highest tier of new artists. Angelic Hoodrat will leave you feeling like you know Kenny Mason, sympathizing with those in a position similar to him, but respecting him to the point that where you understand your sympathy would offend him. With Angelic Hoodrat being one of the best releases of the year, it’s officially time to welcome Kenny Mason to the big leagues.

Favorite Tracks

Chevron

Angels Calling // My Dad

Hit

Rating: 8.5

Listen to Angelic Hoodrat here:

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