Maryland emcee/producer KAAN reunites with Aftermath Entertainment in-house producer Dem Jointz for his 24th full-length studio LP. This guy has made a name for himself in the underground over the past decade, featuring highlights in his ever-growing discography such as Black bloodthe Ski Beatz production Requiem for a Dream Deferred & The Big Ghost Ltd.-is produced All praise is due, Mission Hills or recently The death of a rapper & The Nightly News both are produced by ex Strange Music domestic producer MIKE SUMMERS aka Seven. But after teasing Peace of mind Since September, it's only right for the Maryland lyricist and Compton producer to back up to kick off the 2nd month of the new year.
After the introduction of “Wake Up”, the first song “Corner Store” is a 2-part trap opener that talks about how they want to see him fall, while “ASC (Ain't Shit Changed)” keeps the hats with discretion. known that things are still the same with him. “Living n Fear” has a more raucous vibe, explaining his whole house burning before “Destination” shifts into boom bap territory talking about what you get when you follow false prophets.
“Dying Breed” goes into a drumless setup likening itself to a group of people slowly fading away as time goes on and leads into “Hurry” bringing the kicks and snares back into the picture maniacally reaching into its hardcore lyrical bag . “Basque” is a Black Milk-produced organic boom-bap hybrid that asks what the hell he has to do to prove who's who, but then “Prize” aims to keep his eyes on the finish line for more production traps.
To kick off the album's 2nd half, “Designer Drug” goes in a psychedelic direction, admitting it went down the rabbit hole for all the wrong reasons just before the atmospheric “Smoking Section” slips in for an anthem dedicated to the smokers out there . . “FYF (Fuck Yo Feelings) says it all conceptually over a dusty instrumental, while the rock-inspired 'Past That' talks about moving on from bullshit.
“Footsteps of Greatness” kicks off the LP's encore by speaking from experience over an unsettling and finally, “Katch Up” closes. Peace of mind hooking up that thin spine with some hi-hats courtesy of fellow Aftermath Focus producer… so KAAN can get into his 1 jacket one last time talking about all the ways people have been jealous of him since his career took off really.
Mission Hills it relied more on traps as opposed to both Black blood & Pure Intentionsso I'm not surprised to hear this Peace of mind continues to expand on the sounds of the previous LP that KAAN & Dem Jointz did together. The latter's production continues to progress over the past 7 years of collaboration with psychedelia, boom bap, drumless and a hint of rock that suits the Maryland emcee's powerful themes.
Rating: 9/10
