Tag: Kutt Calhoun

Kutt Calhoun – “T.D.I.A.L. (The Devil Is A Lie)” review

This is the 6th full-length studio LP from Kansas City, Missouri emcee & business executiv Kutt Calhoun. Originally a hype man for Tech N9ne & amongst the first to sign to Strange Music alongside Krizz Kaliko, he ended up dropping 4 albums & 2 EPs with the local independent powerhouse before starting his very own EMPIRE Distribution imprint Black Gold Entertainment named after his classic Strange victory lap. The only 3 projects he’s given us on his own so far are his 3rd EP Kuttin’ Loose, his 5th album Persona Non Grata: Truth Be Told & his 4th EP Residue a year & a half ago. Refusing to slow down, he’s hitting us with T.D.I.A.L. (The Devil Is A Lie).

After the “Mis-Understanding” intro, the title track featuring Stevie Stone who recently did a theme song for former Evolve Champion & The Crash Pesocompleto Campeon as well as 2-time WWE United States Champion & WWE Tag Team Champion Austin Theory finds the Black Gold Ahdasee together over a symphonic trap instrumental talking about Satan being a myth whereas “No Comparison works in more strings & hi-hats dissing those who think they flyer than him. “Hot Comb” hauntingly lets listeners know that it’s never too late to make the call & after the “Understanding” interlude, “Pandemik” featuring Yocelin Ali hops over horns talking about the plot taking form.

“2 Sides” featuring Da Real King offers a soulful trap vibe to the beat wanting to be free just before “I Can’t Complain” featuring Trap Banks hooks up these guitar licks & hi-hats saying this some shit to fly too even though Kutt doesn’t smoke weed at all. “The Undenied” featuring Bishop da Don Moshey Ben Yahudah has a bland trap tone despite the theme of not being denied any longer while “The World’s a Ghetto” featuring Ben G da Prince of Soul says it all.

After the 3rd & final interlude “Wisdom” we get to the final moments of T.D.I.A.L. (The Devil Is A Lie) starting with “Redrum-Eulogy” featuring Z_ taking the eerie trap route instrumentally getting murderous & “All I Need” featuring Irv da Phenom ends the album on a high note due to it’s soulful production matched with the subject matter of God himself being everything they need.

Residue was a solid comeback for Kutt after a 4 year hiatus & as excited as I was for T.D.I.A.L. (The Devil Is A Lie) since Bloody Kutty might as well be the most underrated artist in the history of Strange Music considering that he’s a Day 1er, I came away from the finished product a little torn on it. I don’t mind the concept or even the production, the thing with it is the overabundance of features that’re hit or miss.

Score: 2.5/5

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Kutt Calhoun – “Residue” review

Kutt Calhoun is a 46 year old MC & business executive from Kansas City, Missouri who came up as a hype man for Tech N9ne & amongst the first to sign to Strange Music alongside Krizz Kaliko. He ended up dropping 4 albums & 2 EPs with the local independent powerhouse before starting his very own EMPIRE Distribution imprint Black Gold Entertainment named after his classic Strange victory lap. The only 2 projects he’s given us on his own so far are his last EP Kuttin’ Loose & his 5th album Persona Non Grata: Truth Be Told, but is returning after a nearly 4 year hiatus in the form of his 4th EP.

“I’m Back” is a fun way to set it all off from the dirty south-inspired beat to the lyrics telling the world of his return in the rap game whereas “Let ‘Em Know” takes the eerie trap route talking about there being a time & place for literally everything. The song “Been So Long” works in some hi-hats & spooky backdrop encouraging to walk down with him to see if you can truly feel the pain he’s lived while the penultimate track “Therapy” creepily declares that he ain’t slowing down anytime soon. “Last One Left” though is a great sendoff to the EP whether it be the piano trap instrumental that DJ Pain 1 whips up or Kutt’s lyrics about being the last of a dying breed.

Dude’s discography has always been consistent from the early days as a Strange Music household name to even the 2 offerings he’s given us since carving his own path, so I had no reason to have any worries going into Residue & it sure enough wound up being a solid comeback for Kutt. You can genuinely tell that he sounds passionate to be spittin’ again & the production is more consistent than the last album was.

Score: 3.5/5