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After hearing ‘Gucci Gucci’ and ‘Breakfast (Syrup)’, Kreayshawn’s debut album, Somethin ‘bout Kreay, has been highly anticipated. A cross between Nicki Minaj and M.I.A, the rapper has delivered an album packed with colourful modern hip hop, full of sharp and witty lyrics that can only be taken with a pinch of salt. The foul-mouthed, opinionated star raps about life, drugs and money, sugar coated with psychedelic Disney. Kreayshawn is far more bolshie than Minaj and may not be to everyone’s taste; however her confident crash into the hip hop scene has not gone unnoticed, with many of her tracks sitting comfortably in your head for a considerable amount of time.
Her first track of the album, ‘Blasé Blasé’, immediately catches the attention of the listener with its progressive beats and repetitive lyrics and on first listen it is easy to see how she has been likened to Miss Minaj, yet pay attention, as she cleverly seems to leave out that dire Barbie bubblegum nonsense and replace it with tougher, sharper lyrics.
The track ‘Gucci Gucci’, is perhaps Kreay’s (as she calls herself) most notorious track so far. The rapper has created an incredibly catchy track which attacks designer labels in favour of making it yourself, yet keeps the brand names cleverly in the chorus, creating a memorable track, which could appeal to a wider audience. Filled with an over confident ego and her vivacious female spirit, for example lyrics like ‘my swag…it’s pumpin’ out my ovaries’. The M.I.A likeness is more apparent here than in any other track, opening with ‘full of bad bitches’.
The majority of tracks on the album, Kreayshawn has enlisted the contributions of friends and other rappers, including Kid Cudi on the track ‘Like it or Love it’, which could be said about the track itself. ‘Like it or Love it’ opens with a regimental drum roll feel with head strong lyrics from the two MC’s. However, I feel that this is perhaps not one of her strongest tracks, with a more manufactured mainstream feel, which ultimately may do well in the charts. Luckily Kreayshawn returns to her original form with ‘K234YSONIXZ’, using strong 80’s break beats.
On ‘Go Hard’, we can hear a sound that could be considered pleasing in a club atmosphere and a massive hit for Kreayshawn. Brimming with that dance beat and electro repetitiveness in the chorus ‘La la la’, this is one to watch for. Whilst her final creation is the very auto-tuned ‘Luv Haus’, a track that could be almost comparable to that of Lady Gaga, it is also where we get to hear the loud rapper sharing her ability to sing (if slightly averagely) as well.
Kreayshawn is a take it or leave it rapper and you will either hate it or love the album. Her debut is a cleverly creative concoction of witty, sharp lyrics over fast beats. The album is very easy to get into but considerably easy to grow sick of. Kreayshawn raps about topics that don’t need to be taken too seriously but are loaded with tough attitudes and beliefs. ‘Somethin ‘bout Kreay’ is not just lollipop lyrics, as the cover art may lead you to believe, but is also full of extremely catchy tracks. Kreayshawn may not be to everyone’s taste but she certainly won’t be forgotten in a hurry.
