16yrold & KILLY, Drought | Track Review 🎵

Rap producer 16yrold collaborates with Canadian hip-hop artist KILLY for a drippy, enjoyable enough, melodic banger, “Drought.”

Let’s clear something up first.  Despite the name 16yrold, the Ohio rap producer isn’t a teenager, at least anymore (he was born in 1999).  Still, if you’re unaware of Jerry Cruz, go listen to the Sheck Wes hit “Mo Bamba” (MUDBOY), which he co-produced alongside Take A Daytrip.  Here, on single “Drought,” Cruz collaborates with Canadian hip-hop artist KILLY (Khalil Tatem).  The result is a banger… well, minimally, a moderate one.

Starting with 16yrold’s contributions, he gives KILLY a fine backdrop to ‘melodically rap’ upon.  The production is dramatic, encompassing detuned keys and synths, and punchy, contemporary drum programming.  Yeah, that means this joint is anchored by a trap-style beat, and that’s a win.  The production that really drives “Drought,” but don’t get it twisted – KILLY brings plenty to the table.  The chorus is incredibly simple but lush and quite catchy:

“I can’t show no love
‘Cause only us
Nobody except for us, us
Nobody except for us, us…”

From there, KILLY drops one dripped-out verse.  For the most part, it’s exactly what you expect from a banger. He references foreigns (“Pour a four in the foreign, spilt on the floor”), money (“I ain’t ask for fame, just zeros”), and of course, SEX (“Running with the gargoyles, fucking on freaks” as well as, “Just fucked your bitch, keep on shining, the opps wanna pledge alliance”).  KILLY closes things out with the chorus, once more.

Final Thoughts 

Are 16yrold and KILLY ‘a match made in heaven?’ Eh, I wouldn’t go that far.  “Drought” is, as abovementioned, a moderate banger but certainly NOT the second coming.  Why am I not higher on this record? Basically, it’s built on clichés and ultimately, there are records that say/do the same thing better.  Not knocking it – it’s respectable – but won’t flip the game on its side or anything like that.

16yrold & KILLY • “Drought” – Single • UMG Recordings, Inc. • Release: 12.23.19

Photo Credit: UMG Recordings, Inc.