Music Review: "Anything"
On Thursday, Feb. 15, KOTA the Friend released an Extended Play (EP) entitled “Anything.” Throughout the ten tracks, KOTA the Friend showcases his fresh, soothing R&B style. The EP features a grand selection of different artists, including Childish Major, Angel Haze, Sylvan Lacue and Hello Oshay. These artists and KOTA collaborated to create an EP that both feeds the soul and makes you want to dance.
"Although fairly new to the game and competing for popularity, KOTA is already making his voice heard and has rapidly gained a following."
KOTA the Friend is a relatively unknown rapper. With mainstream artists including Migos, Lil Pump and Kendrick Lamar taking over the top spots on the Billboard Hot 100, up-and-coming rappers like KOTA don’t get the attention that their music deserves.
Although fairly new to the game and competing for popularity, KOTA is already making his voice heard and has rapidly gained a following. His chilled out beats and mellow bars have changed the image of rap music and tested musical boundaries.
Growing up in Brooklyn, KOTA was heavily influenced by the abundance of artists who created and set the rules for hip-hop and rap music. Among his many influencers, KOTA is perhaps most influenced by Nas, 2Pac and the Notorious B.I.G. This comes through in the way he spits bars of rap on all his tracks. It is this fusion of different rapping styles and beats that make him so unique in the industry and lend his ability to lure listeners.
KOTA first made waves in the music industry in 2016 with his album “Palm Tree Liquor.” Like the majority of his albums and EPs, “Palm Tree Liquor” was mostly produced by KOTA himself. His self-production combined with his laidback flow and seemingly effortless rhymes make his music stand out among current artists.
In his new EP entitled “Anything,” KOTA the Friend discusses a large range of topics often seen as “too heavy” for rap albums. Unlike most other rappers, KOTA focuses on expressing his feelings and sending more profound messages. He does so while still maintaining a tranquil atmosphere for the listener. The twenty-three year old rapper focuses most of the EP on sharing what love means to him and how it has affected his life. KOTA also raps about alcoholism, depression, loneliness and coming to terms with one’s inner demons. He enjoys being transparent with his audience and knows that some of his followers can relate to what he raps about or feel a strong connection to his profound lyrics. “Anything” is truly music for the soul and makes the listener feel more complete and understood.
Through releasing this magnificent EP, KOTA had one mission in mind: to bring attention to authentic lyricists and disrupt popular trends. Artists like KOTA often go unappreciated, yet they continue to push the industry forward. KOTA cares little for trends or mainstream attention; his top priority is making music that people genuinely enjoy, and not always because they are told it is “popular.” KOTA’s desire to rap for the people instead of conforming to the stereotypes of hip-hop and R&B music make this an EP which deserves to be listened to all spring and into summer.