Big K.R.I.T.

It's funny how the smart ones have more questions than answers. "I apologize for what I didn't know," confesses Big K.R.I.T. on the sort-of self-titled King Remembered In Time (the acronym K.R.I.T. expanded), yet another worthy addition to his disparate collection of trunk-rattlers and thoughtful blues. The Mississippi artist is hot off batting cleanup on A$ap Rocky's "1 Train," clinching the best verse on the year's preeminent posse cut, but those familiar with K.R.I.T.'s "mixtapes" know to expect something that plumbs deeper than hot 16s and scattered guests. From its fully formed concept pieces and knocking hooks to its all-original beats, K.R.I.T. is album quality. K.R.I.T. typically produces all of his own beats, but on "Life is a Gamble," he allows 9th Wonder behind the boards. Hearing him tackle 9th's programmed soul chirps and snare patterns, while refreshing, actually reminds us how warm and full K.R.I.T.'s orchestrations are; he knows how to execute his vision. Wise beyond his 26 years, K.R.I.T. is shrewd enough to sprinkle Dirty South riding tunes ("My Trunk," "King Without a Crown") amongst his social critiques ("Banana Clip Theory" tackles gun control) and professional introspections. "How dare I rap about my real life?" he states on "REM," a deconstruction of his Def Jam debut's underwhelming commercial reception. "Was I wrong to be so heavy hearted?/I refuse to give up what I started." And we're the beneficiaries.