This is the official full-length debut studio album from Atlanta, Georgia up-&-comer Zukenee. Getting his start in the spring of 2021 off his debut EP Undiscovered, he would continue to make a name for himself in the underground by putting out a couple more EPs in Castle & Playful alongside the debut mixtape Stop Playing last summer. Subsequent exclusive singles like “OJAYS” & “Chest” would later become amongst his best singles since both of them were released in the span of a year & a half, so it was more than enough to peak my interest for Player Slayer.

“CURSIVE” is this psychedelic trap opener talking about signing the pussy as if the characters are all joined similarly to the titular writing style whereas “X OFF LIST” looks to shoot back without giving a fuck who it is bringing a quirkier tone to the instrumental kinda. “PEEP” dives into rage turf talking about having to check out the spot prior to the syrupy “STOP TRIM” admitting the 1 thing he knows for certain is that bitches come & go, hence why he doesn’t stress over hoes.

Moving forward, “ACTRESS” brings an exuberant trap flare to the beat flexing that he fuckin’ actresses out here while “BAE SLAY” continues to incorporate pianos & hi-hats clarifying that trap isn’t dead when it’s actually the bitch-made who’re simply scared. “SARAN” featuring Talinwya finds the 2 talking about catching them if you can with a once again quirky instrumental, but then “ZACK BIA” clashes keys & synthesizers together shouting out the Field Trip Recordings founder of the same name.

“PROJECT LIVING” vibrantly asks if you’re down or pussy while “BAD WOMEN” futuristically boasts his lifestyle. “RAPUNZEL” featuring Sk8star has to be one of the best tracks on the album from the synth-inflicted beat to both of their performances while “BANKROLL PLAY” talks his shit over some plinky chords. The bassy penultimate track “POP” sayin’ they either push it or move it & “HOODWINKED” finishes the album by needing a hood queen to smoke good weed with.

Even though we’ve been seeing a progressional artistic growth in Zukenee over the course of these past 3 years with all 4 of his previous projects that I mentioned at the very beginning, Player Slayer here as a debut outdoes himself to the point where his status is bound to get bigger from here. The production is uniquely interesting, the 2 features are tight & his performances keep getting stronger.

Score: 3.5/5

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