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Maxo Kream - 'Punken' Review

A Track-By-Track Review

By Rap DisciplePublished 6 years ago 4 min read
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The album cover to Kream's debut album, Punken. 

Maxo Kream is a Houston rapper with over a million monthly listeners on Spotify. Punken is his debut studio album and was released on Jan. 12, 2018. Don’t press the snooze button on this rapper; Punken deserves a listen from hip-hop aficionados.

1.) “Work”

This track is like a meditation on what “worked” for Kream before he was a successful rapper—and what didn’t. This track is brutally honest, and surprisingly lighthearted. I’ve never heard anyone be so calm while exclaiming that their brother was shot in the face. The ambient production compliments the lyrics well. It’s exactly what a trip down trap-memory-lane should sound like. 8.5/10

2.) “Grannies”

And now, a deeper dive down trap-memory-lane. There’s vivid imagery about his past experiences. He’s meticulous about every detail—especially his thought process when it came to hiding clothes, weed, drugs, and money. This chapter in his former days begins when he gets kicked out at 15 and moves in with his grandma. Any other rapper would’ve tried to make a hit with this production, but Kream tries to tell the listener the truth. 8.5/10

3.) “Capeesh” ft. Trippie Redd

I like his comparison to the greek philosopher, Socrates. He insists that he’s the “trap Socrates.” How’s that for a nice mix of Greek philosophy and hip-hop? I like the staccato flow he deploys as well; it sounds great as the 808 thumps in the background. The keyboard instrument being used has a really catchy chord progression. Trippie Redd’s background vocals and loud crooning are a good contrast to Kream’s mellow persona.

4.) “Bussdown”

I love the deep synth bass over the drum beat. It feels like a DJ Mustard beat. It’s minimalist production, but still no less effective. I’m glad I heard this track within the context of this album because separately, I wouldn’t have paid much attention to it. I can’t hate on this. 8/10

5.) “Hobbies”

I like the internal rhymes on this one. He’s comparing his street antics to a “hobby.” It’s a creative touch that sounds good over this minor-to-major chord progression. It’s more of the same trap topics though. At this point I wish he would switch his cadence slightly. He sounds too nonchalant. 7.5/10

6.) “Go”

More trap themes, except there’s less to explore. This track bumps though. D Flowers is slightly reminiscent of Takeoff to me. 7/10.

7.) “Beyonce (Interlude)”

Kream flows over a grimey beat with ice-cold bells that hover between nearly four notes. I like how Kream keeps making comparisons to artists in this song, like when he plays with “Drake” and “draco.” If you’re not familiar with a “draco,” refer to this urban dictionary definition. 8/10

8.) “Astrodome Pt. 2”

This track is hilarious. I love how instead of calling the women “thots” and “hoes” like a generic rapper, he flips the paradigm. Instead, he’s the “thot” and “hoe” and he wears it like a badge of honor on this track. He describes the various women he has involved himself with and you get to hear vocals from his detractors. This is over a vibrant guitar loop.This track is golden. 8.5/10

9.) “Love Drugs”

The whole “love is like a drug” premise is cliché. Unless you bend that cliché to make it your own, it ends up being just that… cliché. 5/10

10.) “Pop Another”

This track is catchier than the last one, and I like the production. However, I’m not very impressed. I’m kind of bored listening to him tell me to “pop another cell, pop another pill.” 6.5/10

11.) “Janky”

This is one of the most introspective tracks on the album. This is for all of those in the “struggle.” It all culminates into the time he spent in prison; there’s a recording of a media channel reporting his sentence. He’s poignant about the lack of empathy and inherent racial bias he felt in the courtroom from “12 whites who never had to struggle in their god damn life.” 8.5/10

12.) “ATW” ft. 03 Greedo

Kream raps about being betrayed when he went to prison. He reflects on how people snitched on him for “coke and cigarettes” and how he felt alone. Even those closest to you can turn into Judas. 8.5/10

13.) “Roaches”

This is the most introspective track on the album. There’s talk of what happened to his family during Hurricane Harvey, he criticizes the Red Cross & Donald Trump, and reflects on all of the hardship he’s been through. It’s a great way to close out the album. 9/10

14.) “5200” (Bonus Track)

Moral of the story on this one: there’s a lot of different ways to make money. I mess with it. 8/10

Essential Tracks

“Astrodome pt.2”

“Capeesh” ft. Trippie Redd

“Grannies”

“Roaches”

“Bussdown”

The Verdict

Despite the success he’s enjoyed on streaming platforms, there’s a reason Maxo Kream doesn’t sound like a commercial artist. He has his ears to the streets that raised him and he doesn’t shy away from all of its intricacies. It’s why he can celebrate where he’s from while also being critical of it. Often, he treads a fine line between being nonchalant, and numb altogether. Punken is part autobiography, and part fuel for his next chapters.

Punken is a B.

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