KB Devaughn - 4 me, not u (mixtape)
- by Sebastian
- Apr 18, 2018
- 2 min read
KB Devaughn hits SLAP for the first time with one of the most original hip hop projects you'll hear. 4 me, not u is a 10-song collection of self-defining music. Each song stands apart, by itself - but they come together to help shape and tell the story of a young man from Inglewood that is above the hype, who's content with being himself in a world that doesn't always allow that. He's saying a lot of things that aren't always said in hip hop, especially at the underground level. Rather than boasting or flexing, KB is honest. He doesn't seem to mind appearing vulnerable, or letting you know what's really going on his head. The sadness and anxiety that cycle through all of our brains is addressed, and KB is here to let us all know that those emotions are regular, and it's okay to feel like shit sometimes.
The only thing deeper than his subject matter is his voice, which sometimes goes so low that you may think Isaac Hayes (Chef from South Park) is making an appearance. His ability to not fully commit to singing or rapping on songs like 'Bone' makes for truly blissful music - the type of shit that you can feel in your soul when you close your eyes and just listen. Try it, seriously, it's an experience. The vibes on this project are somewhere between Tyler, The Creator and your mom's R&B collection. It's dark, but not so dark that you need to be feeling down or angry to listen to. It's thought provoking without being preachy, like that cool teacher you had that always had some fire advice to give.
From a production standpoint, 4 me, not u is as original and unique as the artist laying down the vocals. Producer credits go to Dezzie Gee, Darttny Ellis, ANTDAWG, Keyel & Matt Noble - who all do a perfect job of working to provide the backdrops that KB needs to display his unprecedented skill set. The feature list on 4 me, not u is pretty monumental for a debut project. An appearance from KB's long time friend Boogie, as well as features from Buddy, Dana Williams, Osbe Chill, Desi Mo, Neen, D'anna Stewart & Forest make the project a collaborative effort, executed to perfection by artists that have undeniable chemistry. We hear a lot of music here at SLAP, but this project is something truly special. Listen below:
