I had heard the name Kota The Friend floating around the hip-hop conversations but was still ignorant of his actual appeal. I had listened to his 2018 track Colorado, mostly because it was titled after my home state, and it didn’t jump out as something I must pursue further. I’m here to say I was wrong.
Kota dropped his second studio album on May 22, fittingly titled Everything. I’m not sure what guided me to click play, but It came to me at the perfect time. It was in a very crucial moment in my life. I was going through one of my first bouts with depression and actively seeking any source of inspiration. Your mid-20’s are a breeding ground for mental breakdowns, and life’s stresses had finally caught up to me.
As I clicked play and the bouncy production of “Summertime” tap-danced through my headphones, I was instantly transported to the responsibility-free mind state of my 16-year-old past. The only things that mattered were love, being outside and having fun. Oh, what I would do for that time travel to be real. As it transitions in to “Mi Casa,” the album aesthetic continues to take form. This is the album for this year’s social distanced barbecues and summer night cruising. It’s a radiating source of light at the end of a dark tunnel of sadness that enveloped the world with COVID-19.
Kota is not your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper. He isn’t trying to impress you with this rap ability. But the production is not what is carrying this album at all. Even though there is some amazing production on the record that can easily erupt an entire room. Kota is comfortable rapping in his lane and does so with grace and nonchalance that comes off as nothing but genuine. This authenticity shines through in the lyrical content of the project. Responsibility is a theme that carries throughout. Kota speaks on maintaining a balance between his work and his family. He illustrates a lifestyle where he can make genuine connections and memories. It’s not an album filled with braggadocious flamboyance and emptiness. There is sustenance within the words Kota raps.
Tryna go fishin’ ’cause that’s somethin’ I always wanted to do/ sit by the river with all of my sisters and fuck with the view, Kota raps on “Mi Casa.” Painting a picture of a life with a genuine connection is far more valuable than a half a million-dollar necklace or a brand new Lamborghini. Kota doesn’t want a new watch. He wants a loving relationship with his son. He wants to take family trips to the mountains. He wants to live a fulfilled life. But fulfillment does not come from the fame chasing world of hip-hop and celebrity. It comes from within one’s mental state.
The album is brief. Its runtime is just under 40 minutes, and there are 12 songs in total. Three of which are interludes. This is something to be appreciated in a timeframe where artists are jamming albums with over 20 songs to increase stream numbers. Everything is easily digestible in one sitting and envelopes the listener to the world Kota has created. A land where love and happiness are king, not cash. And spending time with your family is more meaningful than the number of women you can pull.
These are all things I was and still am trying to navigate. I have my first child on the way in less than a month, and my mind is racing with endless opportunities and possibilities. Both good and bad. I don’t know if I’m prepared for this, but responsibility doesn’t stop and ask if you’re ready. You must search within and manifest the best life possible. So, I thank KOTA the Friend for allowing me to get out of my head for a brief moment. For transporting me back to the carless days of yesteryear and preparing me for the exciting changes within the future. I look forward to the next project and currently have Everything on repeat as I reflect on the changing landscape of my future.
Introspection Section 
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