This is the highly anticipated 5th full-length album from Mississippi emcee/producer Big K.R.I.T., who started out by releasing a few mixtapes from the mid to late 2000s. He eventually signed to Cinematic Music Group in 2010 & his 6th mixtape K.R.I.T. Wuz Here that same year landed him a joint venture with Def Jam Recordings & a spot in the XXL Freshman Class in 2011. His first 2 studio albums Live from the Underground & Cadillactica in 2012 & 2014 respectively continued to show his potential, but then he went on to form his own label Multi Alumni some time after. His first outing under the new independent label was his previous album 4eva’s a Mighty Long Time in October 2017, which is the best double disc hip hop album of the 2010s without question. Following that was the T.D.T. compilation & even K.R.I.T. Iz Here, which was an underwhelming sequel to K.R.I.T. Wuz Here given how excessively commercial it was in comparison to the rawness of the predecessor. That being said, I was still excited for D.R.D.D. (Digital Roses Don’t Die) considering the fact that the singles he’s been dropping as of late haven’t been continuing to cater to a radio market that doesn’t exist.
After the “Fire” intro, the first song “Southside of the Moon” kicks off the album by talking about a woman from New York over soulful instrumental whereas “Show U Right” is a spacious ode to chivalry. “Rhode Clean” takes a funkier route asking listeners if they’ve ever done such & after the “Earth” interlude, “Cum Out to Play” goes into a more sensual direction except it’s underwritten as fuck.
Meanwhile on “Just 4 You”, we have K.R.I.T. mixing R&B with trap talking about doing anything for the love of his life leading into the jazzy “So Cool” flexing how hot he is. After the “Water” interlude, “Boring” brings back the funk letting his lover know he’s aware that she loves him that way just before “Would It Matter” reinforces some jazzy undertones asking his lover if she would have a problem with him having a 9-5 & not being able to afford her a Birkin bag.
“Generational – Weighed Down” mixes some pianos & saxophones tackling fatherhood & after the “Wind”, interlude, “It’s Over Now” is an acoustic ballad detailing a breakup. The song “Wet Lashes & Shot Glasses” talks about wiping tears while drinking & smoking over a silky instrumental while the penultimate track “All the Time” comes through with some synths & bass-licks calling out those who’ve never been in love before. “More Than Roses” ends the album with a pillowy yet drumless ode to his partner.
I will say that D.R.D.D. (Digital Roses Don’t Die) is better than K.R.I.T. Iz Here was, but not by much. The production has significantly improved due to Krizzle handling a good portion of it himself & that makes me happy because I felt like him stepping away behind the boards could’ve been done a bit better on the last album, but I find this whole romance concept to be decent at best.
Score: 3/5
Legends Will Never Die 