When's the last time someone put out a project this good while incarcerated? That would be Kodak Black with his last mixtape, last summer's Lil B.I.G. Pac. But this is different. Kodak's newly released debut album, Painting Pictures, is an incredible trip through the diary -- much of it written from behind bars -- of one of rap's most brilliant young minds. Even the surefire hits, such as the Future-assisted "Conscience," vividly reflect the whirlwind of tragedy and inspiration that has carried through his life story.
One of the many solo tracks we feel compelled to highlight is "Off the Land," on which Kodak floats effortlessly -- but still with the whole weight of his past -- atop a gorgeous production from Rex Kudo and Wheezy. The album's title clicks; every drawl is a careful brush stroke. Even the lyrics about breastfeeding are beautiful for their unflinching honesty.
Stream Painting Pictures here.