5 Best Songs From Kodak Black’s ‘Painting Pictures’ Album
Kodak Black is one of the more noteworthy rap upstarts looking to make the leap to full-fledged stardom. The teenage phenom out of Pompano Beach, Florida has built a considerable amount of fanfare over the past three years--but he's also been immersed in controversy; with legal battles plaguing his career.
First making waves in 2013 with his debut mixtape Project Baby and following with Heart of the Projects and Institution, Kodak Black (born Dieuson Octave) would break through with his 2015 singles "Skrt" and "No Flockin," with the latter going gold and Black eventually landing a record deal with Atlantic Records. But despite the release of his Lil Big Pac mixtape and his being selected as a member of XXL's 2016 Freshman Class, Kodak Black's 2016 was full of lowlights--he spent a majority of the year behind bars. He was arrested in May and April 2016, facing charges for everything from possession to false imprisonment. After being incarcerated in Florida, Black was transported to South Carolina to face charges of sexual assault.
Posting bail in December 2016, Kodak Black would put the finishing touches on his long-awaited debut album, Painting Pictures, before being arrested again in February 2017. Despite his incarceration, Painting Pictures dropped on March 31, 2017. Featuring guest appearances from Jeezy, Future, Bun B, Young Thug, and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, and production from Ben Billions, Southside, Mike Will Mad It, Honorable C.N.O.T.E., Metro Boomin, and more, Painting Pictures is on of the more high profile albums of the year, with plenty of firepower.
We've compiled what we feel are the five best songs from Painting Pictures that stand a cut above the rest. Did your favorite make the cut?
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"Why They Call You Kodak"
Kodak Black"Now why they call me Kodak? 'Cause I'll shoot a nigga," Kodak Black proclaims on "Why They Call You Kodak," a tun from Painting Pictures that captures the young Floridian in a homicidal state. Warning "See, when it's 'bout me, I'ma slide, run in yo' house/See, when it's 'bout me, niggas die, 'cause I'm in my prime," Kodak Black gets grisly over booming 808 drums, provided by Ben Billions, levying threats at will and promising "I ain't doin' a show if I can't come in with my ratchet." "Why They Call You Kodak" is Kodak at his most sinister and stands as a premier cut on the phenom's debut.
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"Conscience"
Kodak BlackFuture makes an guest appearance on "Conscience." Produced By DY of 808 Mafia & CiceroOnDaBeat, "Conscience" finds the two rappers taking turns dropping verses and sharing hook duties, with Kodak dropping a string of sports-centric couplets, including "Ayy, free my nigga coo, he in the chain gang/Chris Johnson, I swear for God I drop the twenty-eight," in addition to a nod to the Golden State Warriors and Steph Curry. Lamenting the effects that their respective tenures in the streets, Kodak Black and Future com together for a impressive meeting of the minds on "Conscience," another standout that showcases Kodak at his best.
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"U Ain't Never"
Kodak Black"U Aint Never" is another standout. Produced By Ben Billions, who cooks up an hypnotic composition for Kodak to do his bidding over, "U Ain't Never" finds the controversial spitter in on of his more sublime moods. Drawling "Ayy, you ain't never sell no work/How I skrrt skrrt, when I pull up in that vert" and distinguishing the real from the fake, Kodak shins brightly on "U Ain't Never, an undeniable heater from the youngster's debut.
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"Feeling Like"
Kodak Black Featuring JeezyKodak Black connects with Jeezy on "Feeling Like," an introspective selection on which Kodak reflects on his newfound success and the fanfare that comes along with it. Produced By Da Honorable C.N.O.T.E, "Feeling Like" contains murderous lyrics, like "My lil nigga trippin', happy, wanna catch a body/He even dropped outta school to pursue his hobby/I told him to just do it and don't talk about it/And once you slide, boy, you better hit everybody," as well as a nod to friends stuck in the prison system. Jeezy, who contributes an intense veers of his own, lends his presence, taking the track to another level, resulting in "Feeling Like" being among the more admirable offerings on the album.
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"Candy Paint"
Kodak Black Featuring Bun B"Everybody wanna ride candy paint/Everybody just comparing," Kodak Black observes on "Candy Paint," an addictive offering that hits on all cylinders. Featuring a guest verse from Bun B, who delivers a sobering stanza with cautionary undertones, and syrupy production by Go Grizzly, "Candy Paint" gives listeners a taste of H-Town, with Kodak also displaying his love for American muscle with exotic paint. Rapping "Got digital dash in my cutless/Got this shit from Duffy/Ain't get this with no rap money/I got this shit from Doubling," Kodak is in rare form on "Candy Paint," a fin contribution to the list of rap songs celebrating car culture.