Par Lou-Marco Crepelle
Kota The Friend recently celebrated the 5th anniversary of his series Lyrics to Go. A project that had him stand out as a lyricist and not just a Hip-Hop MC, but a Neo-Soul artist too, constantly seeking self-development and making therapeutic music to nourish his mind and soul.
He’s just finished his European tour, playing in Paris for the very first time, at Cabaret Sauvage.
Released on January 25, Kota’s latest album The Friend promises to be the refreshing continuation of his Lyrics To Go series. In this fifth volume, Kota continues to travel, both physically and spiritually. Sounds So Beautiful offers you a lyrical analysis of his journey.
From the first lines of the album, it is Kota’s maturity that stands out with this sentence. Aware of the ephemeral nature of life and the importance of taking care of those we love, his dreams are transformed into missions, into true life goals. It also affirms his determination to continue doing what he loves for those he loves.
Dreams turn to missions
Kota The Friend – Beijing
Family first, livin’ ’til I’m sleepin’ with the fishes
Still in this idea of knowing oneself and others better, Kota emphasizes the fact of choosing one’s relationships carefully. To improve yourself and rise up, you have to be surrounded by people who pull you up and who want you to succeed. You should also not pay attention to selfish people, who talk about things they don’t know and who are not able to think by themselves.
People bickerin’ ’bout all this shit they think they know
Kota The Friend – Beijing
We only kickin’ it with people that could think on they own
For those who still doubted about it, Lyrics to Go Vol.5 is indeed a travel, as the cities in the song names indicate. The rapper looks back on his memories in different cities – Tulum, Milan, Vienna – but also in specific geographical locations – Backstage in Minneapolis, Alabahama Hills… Kota describes this journey to us with simple moments but filled with serenity.
UNO on the beach, sippin’ liquor in a lake house,
Kota The Friend – Big Bear
Blessins always fallin’ from the sky, get the rake out
This serene journey is troubled when Kota remembers his own misfortunes, including a complicated love affair. But he also remembers the misfortunes that humans experience all around the world, especially in times of war. He expresses this return to lucidity in Backstage In Minneapolis: he speaks about the behinds of the utopian journey.
But maybe if you tell me what’s hurting I probably understand it
Kota The Friend – Backstage In Minneapolis
I fuckin’ love you won’t you understand it
Loading up another cannon
Kota The Friend – Backstage in Minneapolis
Bombing everything in sight
Don’t care where the fuck it’s landing
So it’s up to me to end the war
After this raw return to reality, the songs are gradually filled with confidence and hope in what he is now and what he will become.
A n*gga free, never living enslaved, until I’m digging my grave
Kota The Friend – Yuma
We feel a real recovery after the questioning. From now on, there is no room for doubt, only confidence and ambition.
It feels good knowing what I’m seeking is seeking me
Kota The Friend – Evergreen
It feels good knowing all my people can see the dream
Out in Evergreen, we can move a fuckin’ mountain
Kota The Friend – Evergreen
And everything around it, that’s really how I feel
At the end of the album, he even goes so far as to pass on this hustler mentality to his daughter. Thanks to this, Kota shows that he has managed to find inner peace, that he is now able to know what to teach his daughter and what values to instill in her. Even if it was disturbed throughout the album, we find once again the serenity of the beginning.
And my daughter that’s my lil twin, fuck a gender role
Kota The Friend – Vietnam
She ain’t accepting how it is, she gonna set the tone
Black and educated, yes baby, get ya own
My mamma strong, love to see these women gettin’ bold
Article written for SOUNDS SO BEAUTIFUL
