Patreon supporters received access to this review on October 25th, 2024.

Kembe X released my favorite album of this past March alongside Hippie Sabotage with the Sleep Paralysis LP. When I found out that he had even more music coming this year, I was pretty happy. Before I dive into each track, I just wanna talk about the title of this EP real quick. Throughout his career, Kembe X has used music as a tool to disseminate the importance of mental health care, perseverance, and coping. It’s a big reason why his music has resonated with me in the past so much. With this latest release, Kembe wanted to have more fun and create something that isn’t gonna have listeners reflecting on all of the hardships they’ve endured. With that in mind, let’s delve into the songs here…

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The opening track, national anthem, is one of my favorites. Back when I was experimenting with promotional dance videos, I was planning on doing one for this song. It’s impossible for me to not move when the drums come in. This song might have one of the best beat drops I’ve heard all year to be honest. I really like the guitar-driven instrumentation during the intro, and Kembe’s shouty vocals sound really cool over them. I like that part of the song so much that I wouldn’t even mind if the whole track sounded like that. I mean, it wouldn’t be as good as the full song we have now, but it’d still be dope. I already know this song is gonna go crazy at live shows. I can’t wait to see that. As far as Kembe’s actual vocal performance on this track goes, I was very impressed. You can tell that he has really great control over his voice. I would not be able to use mine that way because it gives out when I hit a certain volume. Anyway, there are a lot of lines that stood out to me in this track, but this one might be my favorite.

Sometimes I don't want to fuck, can we chill?

That’s so real. Again, the project is called “it’s not that deep,” but there are a lot of lines that really resonated with me.

They know I'm gon' rap about my pain regardless
I keep bouncin' back, like my name was Spaulding
I'm goin' up and up, my boy gon' burn you up
Am I loud enough, or should I turn it up?

When it comes to the actual rapping performance, my favorite part is definitely the last quatrain. His flow sounds amazing here…

Back in the booth
Bro got the strap and the juice, these niggas actin' obtuse
Bendin' the rules, I'm tryna abandon the roof
I'm colder than Canada Goose

The song is just under two minutes long, and I can see how some might say that it ends abruptly. I don’t necessarily disagree, but I don’t view that as a bad thing.

Track 2 is called DEATH & TAXXXES, and I believe it was released as a single. The preceding song transitions into this one really well. The dynamic production kinda made it difficult for me to even discern which part of the song should be considered the hook. I really love how it kinda reflects the title of the song.

I'm always talkin' 'bout God & money

I think my favorite part comes around the 35 second mark. The way the instrumental develops and Kembe switches to a melodic, kind of shouty delivery is really awesome.

I blank on stages
That been affectin' my bankin' statement
I do not fuck with no blanket statement
This line I'm walkin' is razor blade-ish
They think I'm rockin' an ankle bracelet
I'm in the stu on some day to day
Most of my niggas from dangerous places
Grew up with shit that's on layaway

I feel like Kembe has really found his own sound. I remember feeling like he was perhaps wearing his influences too much on his sleeve when I reviewed Talk Back. Speaking of which, that album is still really good, so go check that out if you haven’t yet. The title track in particular is my jam. Anyway, DEATH & TAXXXES ended up being another highlight for me. I thought it was dope the first time I heard it, but now I love it even more. It’s fire.

The following song is called i’m kool, which was another single. This one might have my favorite hook. It’s been living rent-free in my head ever since I first heard it. The way Kembe played with flows on this track is crazy too. He has a really nimble cadence. I would actually love to hear him collaborate with J.I.D, and I know he was in the studio with Sylvan LaCue at one point as well. Again, there are a lot of lines that stood out to me.

I'm in Sprouts runnin' shit up on EBT
I'm next, nigga, cut in line, gettin' DDT'd
If your life a movie, it's straight to DVD
They just wanna see me bleed
Sick as fuck, I mean she don't wanna see me leave
They sick as fuck, I mean they don't wanna see me breathe
He sick as fuck, should've signed him to TDE

That last line is a reference to how there were rumors of Kembe X signing to Top Dawg Entertainment around 2016, which is what prompted me to check out his music in the first place. I think they would do really well with him on the roster. He’d honestly be one of their best artists, or at least one of my personal favorites.

Speaking of TDE, INTROVERTED EXTROVERT features Ab-Soul, and it was my favorite track on the project the first time I listened. When I heard it, Ab-Soul wasn’t listed as a feature, so his appearance was a really awesome surprise. The music video was actually uploaded to the official Top Dawg Entertainment YouTube channel too.

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Once again, it is impossible for me to listen to this song without getting the coveted involuntary head nod. The beat makes me feel like I’m soaring above the clouds, and Kembe’s rhythmic agility is on full display here. However, Ab-Soul definitely didn’t come to play. I’m not gonna say he stole the show. This is one of those situations where a new listener might say “I came for Ab-Soul, and stayed for Kembe X.” Well, Kembe went first, but you get what I mean. What Soulo did on this track is the definition of “floating.” I feel like his flow is so good that it might even overshadow how great the writing is.

Drifting off deep in thought
Lit me up another a Newport
I'm still keeping it player
These niggas all swear they're balling in court
But judging by the scoreboard, y'all need to score more
Takes much more than talent
Even in defeat, I manage to find new balance

The song is exactly as fire as I would’ve hoped it’d be had I known that the collaboration existed before hearing it. That initial listening experience was a blessing for sure. This song is amazing.

Track 5 is called AIR BAE, and this one isn’t as amazing as the others to me, although I do still enjoy it quite a bit. The production just feels a lot more stripped back than it does on the other songs, which of course is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s noticeable, but not in a jarring way. The rapping itself is what keeps me engaged. The line about having “d**k up in your airway” was pretty fire. The second verse is my favorite part of the song though.

Kickin' it with this bitch like puttin' the puzzle together with not enough pieces
Kickin' it with a goth bitch, the shit got me second guessin' if I got enough Jesus

There’s a really relatable line here that I love as well. I’m gonna go off on a tangent, but just bear with me for a second. When I was in 8th grade, my yearbook superlative was “friendliest.” I got bullied a lot that year because for whatever reason nice people are targets for jerks. I have forgiven my bullies from that year and am still unpacking the damage. However, I just want to say that the reason I received that “friendliest” label in the first place was because I never opened my mouth to speak up. I was very shy and quiet as a child. That’s why this line resonated with me so much…

I was raised, "if you ain't got nothin' nice then just don't say the shit"
It's probably why when I be 'round you niggas I be quiet as fuck

That is so fire. I love it. People close to me know I can be very mean sometimes, although to be fair that’s usually when I’m not doing well mentally. Anyway, the song has a very soft, kind of melodic outro that’s juxtaposed with the first part of the beat, which is harder and more abrasive. I think it works pretty well, although I found it more exciting on my first listen than I did when I returned to the project. It’s a dope track overall.

The sixth song on this EP is called BRITISH, and it features TF, with whom I first became familiar through his feature on ScHoolboy Q’s Blank Face LP in 2016. This is definitely a weaker track to me, but it’s still pretty good. I think the TF feature is what really makes this one worth replaying. I will admit that the hook definitely grew on me after multiple listens, as did the instrumental. I never thought they were bad at all, but they just didn’t stand out to me much at first. It didn’t immediately hook me, ya know? Like I said, the TF feature is what sold me on the track. However, there are definitely some standout lines from Kembe X here. This one is probably my favorite.

Please don't be talkin' fake deep off them whippets

I shouldn’t laugh at stuff like that, but whippets are a funny drug to me. It just seems like such a stupid thing to do, but I know it’s a serious health issue, and that I shouldn’t make light of it. Anybody has the potential to be led down a bad path, so I shouldn’t shame anyone about something like that. Anyway, let me stop rambling and get back to the point. I think another reason this song kinda sticks out is that there’s no percussion at all. I didn’t even realize that there were no drums until I listened like 10 times. T.F.’s flow feels a bit livelier than that of Kembe, so I guess that’s why his performance was so memorable to me. Like I insinuated before, this isn’t one of my favorites on the project, but I still like it. I think it’s pretty good.

At this point the project has slowed down a bit, and then we get spilled milk. I really love this one. Kembe is kind of blurring the lines between singing and rapping here. Well, maybe some might disagree and just say he’s rapping. I always felt an inclination to separate melodic rapping from traditional rapping, so I’m maybe showing my age a bit. Anyway, this song has another amazing beat drop, similar to that of the opening track. My favorite part of the song is the verse itself.

New bitch say she wish she had a sloppin' partner
I heard that you miss me, that is not my problem
I be meditatin' for like half an hour
'Cause I had to drop a Xanny, that's a chakra blocker
Everything been perfect, bitch, since you been gone
No more random bullshit poppin' up on the phone
Drive to the store used to feel extra long
Now I don't gotta hear shit 'less it's my favorite song

I really love the melody here. I will definitely say that the song has a slow start, which may turn away impatient listeners who aren’t giving the project their full attention. I really love it though. The song’s dope.

The penultimate track is called Neck on the Loose. I love this one so much. It’s got kind of a Punk Rock vibe to it, which is something I really appreciate. I say that as someone who has never really listened to Punk, so take that with a grain of salt. I just love the hook here so much.

Have you ever seen this man?
Last seen on a screen with ten bands
Streets say he's been up to no good
Man down he gets caught in my hood
My girl was last seen with this man
Hugged up she said he was just fam
Next time he sees me, it's click bam
Next time he sees me, it's-

His flow and vocal delivery are pretty animated. Like I said earlier, he has really good control over his voice. I really love this line…

In a weird ass pocket like FlyLo

That’s so fire. I’m ready for more Flying Lotus music. I think he announced something recently, so I look forward to that. I also loved the line Kembe had about his heart being covered in cryo’. That’s a pretty creative way to say he’s got a heart of ice. Even when he isn’t setting out to make music about humankind’s mental welfare, those DNA strands remain present in his work so to speak.

They wanna see me in denial
Tryna kill my inner child
Shorty think she love me, she in love with the truth
Hate my OCD, but she in love with the loop
Too far gone, I can't come down
Baby girl said, "fuck it, boy, I'm comin' with you"

These days I’m at a point where I can find substance in lyrics that I previously would’ve been indifferent towards. If you don’t have any experience with the kinds of struggles that are described in these lines then you might not understand why they resonated with me so much. Kembe’s words have weight to them, which is something I really appreciate, as you can hopefully tell. I think the song’s excellent.

The final track is a major highlight entitled arizona summer Hope. Honestly, I think this might actually be my favorite song on the whole project despite it not featuring any rapping. Kembe is singing throughout this track over a soft, guitar-driven instrumental that wouldn’t sound out of place on Frank Ocean’s Blonde or maybe Kevin Abstract‘s American Boyfriend album. The way Kembe layered his vocals here sounds really nice. I’m not sure what he was intending to convey lyrically, but I do have my own interpretation. It sounds like he’s describing a timid little child with anxiety.

She say she see ghosts
She think demons got her number
Goosebumps in the Arizona summer
Pretty apache so abnormal glued to the screen
Got headphones on all day long, she can't hear a thing
Stories of murder in between […], sellin' her a dream

That last line in particular makes me think about how nothing was censored for me as a child, and how that was detrimental to my mental health in the long run. Sonically, this sounds like the kind of thing that I would’ve laid in bed listening to on repeat in high school. I believe the kids call that “bedrotting.” The track ends with what sounds like a woman saying a phrase or term in another language. I couldn’t tell you what language it is, but I’m curious to know. If any of you can understand it, let me know in the comment section below. Anyway, the song is fire overall.

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^{In the preamble to this review, I mentioned Kembe X’s propensity to include themes surrounding mental health. I think he set out to make a relatively lighthearted project here, but the undertones are still there. It’s definitely not as overt as it was on his preceding few releases, so this one may be more accessible to people who just wanna have a good time. As far as the sonic aspects of the music itself go, I think this is on par with the Hippie Sabotage collaboration from earlier this year in terms of quality. The title of this project tells you everything you need to know. I also imagine a lot of these songs will become mainstays at his live shows. They just sound really apt for that environment. There’s a lot of versatility exhibited on this release as well. It’s really impressive to me how he managed to create a cohesive, yet diverse record. This is basically a mini album. Don’t sleep on it. It’s an exceptional project.}

Favorite Song: arizona summer Hope
Least Favorite Song: BRITISH

A-