Kodak Black, Before I Go | Track Review 🎵

[usr 3.5]

Rapper Kodak Black drops a respectable trap banger with “Before I Go,” assisted by fellow rapper/singer Rod Wave.

[otw_shortcode_dropcap label=”“I’” size=”large” border_color_class=”otw-no-border-color” shadow=”shadow” square=”square”][/otw_shortcode_dropcap]m in deep waters, but I don’t know how to swim / Got all these problems, but I don’t know how to deal with it,” rapper 🎙 Kodak Black asserts on the chorus of his single, 🎵 “Before I Go”. He continues, “I miss my mama’s face, I’m still a kid / Everything my mama say, I try to remember,” adding, “Everybody gon’ die before I go.” Interesting. Notably, the taps 🎙 Rod Wave for the assist on this intriguing cut.

“Before I Go” features mysterious, unsettling production work initially – the strings stand out. Kodak Black raps melodically in an undertone. When that hard knocking trap beat kicks in, “Before I Go” gains more stability; there are some great production cues.  Following the chorus, Rod Wave appears on the first verse, offering a welcome contrast to Kodak (“Shooters on the roof of my residence just like the President’s / And a shooter in the coupe, step on shit, only keep tellin’ me”). Kodak makes his point on the chorus (excerpted above), which endears itself as the record progresses. On the second verse, he remains an acquired taste – it’s hard to understand some of the words he raps to be honest. Once reading his lyrics, of course, what he’s going for makes sense, overall. That said, “Before I Go” could use more structure within the form to make it more effective overall.  I’d argue it doesn’t latch completely after an initial listen.

Final Thoughts 💭 

All in all, “Before I Go” is an enjoyable trap record.  After a couple of listens, I find myself enjoying it more each time.  Is this Kodak Black joint ‘the second coming?’ No, but it’s worthy of some spins.

[usr 3.5]

🎙 Kodak Black • 🎵 “Before I Go” (Ft. Rod Wave) • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 8.6.21

[📷: Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]