Although Mississippi rapper Big K.R.I.T. has been around for a couple of years now, it wasn’t until last year’s release of his mixtape ‘K.R.I.T. Wuz Here’ that his fan base started to grow exponentially. He’s been incredibly busy recording his debut album for the prestigious Def Jam, yet he still found the time somewhere to create his new tape ‘Last King 2: God’s Machine’. A sequel of sorts to his 2009 work entitled ‘Last King’.  ‘Happy Birthday Hip Hop’ is one of the previews from ‘Last King 2’, and it’s an absolute gem. Featuring Yelawolf, the track is backed with bluesy piano, which makes an astounding contrast to the frank and intense lyrics. ‘Happy Birthday Hip Hop’ is a necessity for any fan of the genre, and sets the bar high for Big K.R.I.T.’s future releases.

Big K.R.I.T. ft. Yelawolf – Happy Birthday Hip Hop

[via PMA]

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This song doesn’t hit it for me until the soul sample comes in. The juxtaposition between the 808 and the sample pull this track out of blandness. Big K.R.I.T. verses pass the muster until Yelawolf hijacks the track.

The Shady Record rapper’s distinctive southern accent and rapid fire lines shows his mastery of both the medium and the message. Given only one verse he gets the song to it’s most meaningful, rhyming: “instead of becoming a diamond-wearing novelty, I rock beads and buy my mama some property”.

Big K.R.I.T. and Yelawolf are two names to be excited about in 2011, and I’d jump at the chance to hear them both on the same track.

Big K.R.I.T. (Ft. Yelawolf) – Hometown Hero (Remix)

via P&P

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