Falcon rating: 3.5/5

In late 2018, multitalented Mississippi rapper Big K.R.I.T. dropped a set of three EPs, Thrice X, Double Down, and Trifecta, which he has since assembled into one short album, TDT. Only eight tracks, this project is far less imposing than K.R.I.T.’s 2017 classic, 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time, and while this compilation does not quite reach the level of that album, it still is a good contribution with some excellent tracks on it.

The opening song, “Energy,” is a laid-back yet slightly eerie way to start the album. The smooth piano groove and ghostly humming K.R.I.T. chooses to back up his vocals with provides an interesting “energy” to the song. Next, K.R.I.T. pays homage to his Texan influences on “Learned From Texas.” Complete with chopped-’n-screwed production, this song is hypnotically groovy and sure to make you want to listen over and over again. “Pick Yourself Up” mixes more Dirty South sounds with an uplifting message, as K.R.I.T. expresses his pride in being “I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T.” These first three tracks are excellent, but the next two, “Glorious” and “1 Oh Oh,” are pretty mediocre and saccharine with uninspiring lyrics.

“Higher” has a somewhat subpar beat by Big K.R.I.T.’s standards, though there are some nice Kanye-esque autotuned backing vocals. The lyrical content, however, is more interesting, as he reflects on his faith and how it relates to his life. Afterwards, “Look What I Got” is a fun track, but still not the most compelling. K.R.I.T. does close out the album well, returning to a drippy Dirty South beat on “4 Tha Three.” Here he raps about how he and his hometown have changed, with lyrics like “When you come from the mud, you get it out the mud / Now look at what the mud cost now.”

TDT is certainly worth a good listen, and while there are some pretty forgettable songs, there are also some that will make their way onto many playlists. Big K.R.I.T.’s sound is one that I appreciate greatly and find to be refreshing and unique in today’s musical landscape, so I found the best tracks to be the ones that reflect that individual quality.

The tracks on which K.R.I.T. is more appealing to the lowest common denominator do not do nearly as well, however. While it’s good to have new K.R.I.T. to listen to, even the best stuff on here doesn’t exactly push the artist further forward than he’s already gone. Nevertheless, this small taste does make me excited about future full-length work from him.

This piece also appears in our February 2019 print edition.