I do like the horns on the hook but that’s about it. The obligatory Song For The Wife, What We Gon’ Do, is repetitive and bland. The only significant difference is Lecrae sounds much worse on Ready Or Not. Phew delivers a surprisingly intense verse as well.īorn Sinner, Amen and Ready Or Not are all paint-by-numbers trap with some clunky bars from Phew. I do not care that you met Cardi B, sorry.Ĭarvello’s production on Blockhead is grimier than usual for him, with thick Mustard-esque synths and some faint strings on the hook. One Call would be another hit for me if not for the whistle on the hook and Lecrae’s lightweight verse, and wouldn’t you know it, he drops more names. Both emcees ride the percussive instrumental quite well. Normally, a stunt sample like this would bore me, but the beat around it is delightful, with great drums and a solid beat-switch midway through Lecrae’s verse. Name-dropping Zaytoven on a tape that does not feature his production also comes off as clout-chasing if I’m honest. Yes Lecrae, we remember when you snagged a Metro Boomin’ credit.

WILDIN opens the album on a pretty mediocre note. I have very low expectations going into this. Based on my admittedly limited exposure to him, I would characterize 1K Phew as a Christian version of Quavo with a marginally better flow. What pulled him back to making music? Apparently a collaborative mixtape with labelmate and relative Christian Hip-Hop newcomer 1K Phew. From then on, I was different.Well, Lecrae’s “retirement” lasted just over one year. It wasn’t until he and his friends almost got shot one day that Phew decided to truly surrender his life to God and His plan. But even though Phew had it better than some of his peers, having grown up with two praying parents who encouraged him in his gifting, he still found himself going down a destructive path as a teen. “You can’t force anybody to follow your way but you can let your light shine and watch them come to you.” The past he speaks of is one that rings true for the many who grew up in similar circumstances. “The story I’m telling is how I overcame my obstacles,” he says. This sort of genuine directness is what resonates with his audience, and his growing platform is a clear reflection of his passion to share his story. That’s where the 1K comes from, always keeping it 1,000 no matter what.”

To let him tell it: “I’m not worried about being politically correct. There’s a sense of transparency that comes through in his music, a kind of refined rawness that can only be gained through experience and honing your craft. As evidenced by his mixtapes Sunday Night (2015) and Life (2016), Phew’s got plenty of swag and wisdom to impart, and people are beginning to connect with his candid approach. He’s fun and engaging, no doubt, but he’s so much more. At just 23 years old, Phew’s rise from a local rapper with swagger to compelling artist equipped with a message has been refreshing to watch. His smooth delivery and evocative vocal tone pair well with the bouncy, energetic production that defines his sound. Atlanta has long been an inimitable force.ġK Phew is among a new breed of Atlanta artists taking the trap sensibility and elevating it to great effect. From Outkast and Goodie Mob, Ludacris and T.I., to Migos, Young Thug, and Future, the proof is there. To say that Atlanta is merely having a moment, would be to overlook decades of the region’s impact on hip-hop culture at large.

1k phew mixtape