G.O.O.D. Music is putting in heavy work lately. Following labelmate Pusha T’s release of Wrath of Caine, Cyhi The Prynce dropped the second installment of his Ivy League tapes, Ivy League: Kick Back. The last major work he appeared on was the label’s collaborative album, Cruel Summer. This time around, The Prynce calls the shots. He compiles stoner anthems, trafficking troubles, and escapades with females over unique sample choices to cook up the perfect tape for all ages.
Ivy League: Kick Back holds a lengthy tracklist with 22 songs. After sifting through its entirety, there are definitely a couple gems worth more than just one play. Pass his dedication to marijuana, “Mary Jane”, and the unpleasantly autotuned, “Nothing Else to Do”, and you’ll hit the Lex Luger produced “Far Removed”. Its intro features a dope sample from Terence McKenna (an American humanist philosopher) who’s heard criticizing the music industry’s negative influence on youth. Cyhi quickly jumps into the bars to affirm rap as a way of expression for those growing up in less fortunate environments. “Yeah I’m from the streets, but I don’t talk about it/ My homie’s worth a couple mil and that’s just off exotic/ I’d rather be caught with this pistol than to be caught without it/ I’ve sold enough green to fill the fuckin’ Boston Garden!”
“Start A War” is one-of-a-kind, as it contains a sample from Adele’s “Turning Tables”. Arkatek Beats provides a melancholy instrumental for Cyhi to lament over witnessing losing a brother to the streets. “Shit happened so fast/ All I heard were shots and broke glass/ I just remember being so mad/ But I had to play dead until them niggas drove past.”
“Kick Back” switches up the tone, as it’s definitely the carefree, party joint of the tape. King Liam supplies a feel-good beat for Prynce to invite everyone to the college carousal. “We at the kick back, bring a six pack!/ We at the kick back, I got some kush, we got some purp’, who tryna mix that?”
“Woah” follows a couple tracks later with the easily recognizable Big Sean “Mercy” sample. Coney Gurl and G Beats collaborate to create the ultimate club backdrop while Cy lets off on the bars about his repertoire of bad bitches.
“Occupy Your Mind” is the next must-hear with a sample from indie artist Gotye’s “Heart’s a Mess”. Cyhi delivers his own interpretation of a serenade using his trademark clever word play. “I’m your romantic mechanic/ I specialize in Chevelles and Caprices”
He wraps up the tape with the Atlanta devoted remix to “A-Town”, featuring fellow Georgians 2 Chainz, Travis Porter and B.O.B. This is the type of energetic joint you would picture these cats to play while they’re “turning up” in the locker room before a football game.
Cyhi definitely had a lot of fun creating this tape. He’s even caught singing on “I’m Catching Feelings” (although we may not cosign his crooning ever again). As a fairly new artist in the game, Kick Back warms up the crowd for bigger and better things with G.O.O.D. Music. Hardway Musical, his debut solo album, was advertised to come out last year, although no recent updates have been announced. Keep an eye out for this one; with ‘Ye on his side, he’s sure to be a problem.