Kenny Mason is an artist I've been tuned into since 2022. The first time I heard "A+" featuring Denzel Curry, I was instantly hooked by his high-pitched, scrappy, yet versatile voice, paired with his meaningful lyrics. I don’t typically focus on lyrics when listening to music (I tend to take in the song as a whole) but something about the way Kenny’s voice glides over his beats makes every word hit differently, pulling me in with both sound and substance.
The thing with Kenny Mason is that his tendency to lean into rock-and-roll influences, especially in his early and most recent works, really throws me for a loop. I don’t think his voice and delivery translate well to that style of music, and I personally prefer him strictly on rap tracks. That’s not to say he shouldn’t pursue the sound he feels best represents him, but for me, it just doesn’t hit the same. When I listened to Angelic Hoodrat: Supercut and RUFFS, only a handful of tracks stuck with me ("A+", "BLACK HEART", and "SHELL"). I felt like he was trying too hard to incorporate rock and metal into his sound, and the result came off as forced.
It wasn’t until the beginning of the summer of 2023 that I truly started to appreciate Kenny Mason. When he posted snippets online for his upcoming album 6, I was hyped. It finally seemed like he had found the aesthetic and tone that best suited him. And when the album dropped, he absolutely delivered. 6 was smooth, dark, and had an almost sinister edge to it. My favorite tracks include "DARKSIDE", "DRACULA", and "I GOT". He then capped the summer off with "Cola Coca" alongside Dilip and Zelooperz, which instantly became one of my all-time favorite tracks.
At this point, Kenny Mason had solidified himself as one of my top artists. Even though his albums can be hit-or-miss for me, his highs are some of the highest I’ve seen from a rapper. He went on to release two more albums last year, 9 and Angel Eyes. While I enjoyed both, neither quite captured the same energy that made 6 so special. Still, Kenny Mason's ability to push boundaries and experiment with his sound keeps me intrigued, and I’m always eager to see where he takes his music next.
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