I can’t lose.
One of life’s greatest mysteries (nestled between “what happens when we die”?” and “was Babe Ruth Biracial?”) is how do some artists blow up while others are trapped in obscurity? Eminem was arguably a better rapper before he was discovered. Encore should’ve stripped him of his fame, if life was fair.
Yet here we are, with artists like Kota the Friend dropping consistent dopeness and we just act like he’s not. Last I checked, he isn’t Kota the Enemy, why can’t he be a household name like Lil Baby, Da Baby, or even Babyface? I guess that’s why you’re reading this, to find the REAL music you need, to among other things, quit your job.
First quarter, we attacking the basket / I’m living life in the moment ’cause it’s ashes to ashes / I got Durant focus, I’m in competition with self / Doing my best with the hand I was dealt / I make a fire and I fan it myself
Kota the Friend collaborated with producer Statik Selektah to gift us the excellent album, To Kill A Sunrise. Statik made a name for himself in the early 2000’s, collaborating with should-be-famous-but-they’re-not Hip Hop icons like Evidence, AZ, Consequence, Apathy, and Sean Price. The leadoff track from the album is our Track of the Month: Wolves. The perfect opener, with Kota going in from the first bar, explaining how he’s gonna keep going despite y’all sleeping. Brought up from the wolves.
Everything I’m learning just confirming what I knew / I am working, I am worth it, and I earned what I accrue / Sittin’ by the furnace, having dinner with my muse / Got the speakers in the ceiling, I be feeling brand new / I am proud, I am Black, there’s nothing I can’t do / I am free, I am me, and that’s all I’m trying to be
Speakers in the ceiling is my new favorite flex. That’s the moment you make that jump. We all can get there. Separate from the pack, you’ve learned all you need to survive. Trust your instincts, most of us don’t. You have an inner voice for a reason, listen to it. It may tell you Babe Ruth’s true ethnicity.
you can learn more about kota the friend here
*It occurred to me after selecting this track, that this is the 2nd Kota the Friend song on this playlist (the first being the also excellent, “Monday”). Charge it to the game, I guess this means y’all need to check him out. As Nas and Jay once said, sorry not sorry. As DJ Khaled also once said, positivity and overexposure can create a career.