Street King

iTunes Review

Trae is one of the most distinctive voices to emerge from the Houston hip-hop scene during the 00’s. His gravel-throated delivery and world-weary narratives of violence and disillusionment have won him well-deserved comparisons to Scarface, Willie D, and other Houston luminaries. Street King, the doggedly prolific MC’s sixth studio album, is Trae’s most self-consciously high-profile release in some time. Where Trae’s previous release, 2008’s The Beginning, was a relatively relaxed affair, uncluttered by guest appearances and grounded in slow-rolling Southern funk, Street King features a long roster of producers and guest rappers whose stylistically varied contributions give the album a startlingly eclectic sound. Lil’ Wayne, Rick Ross and Big Boi all make strong showings here, but Street King’s focus remains firmly on Trae’s low-key charisma, unfailingly nimble flow and studied lyricism. Unsurprisingly, the album’s strongest moments arrive when Trae is given room to shine on his own terms, as on the brooding title track, a compelling meditation on personal ambition and artistic integrity that stands as one of Trae’s finest lyrical workouts.