Eladio Carrión is one of the most ‘KBRN’ MCs of All Time
The boricua rapper continues to be a ‘sen2 kbrn’ and straight hip-hop.
Eladio Carrión might be the best Puerto Rican MC born in the States (he was born in Kansas City) since Joell Ortiz or dare I say it, Big Moon Dog aka Big Pun. Let me explain.
Just listen to his latest masterpiece, DON KBRN, a continuation of his KBRN series. And I mean this as a compliment: even though the lyrics are almost entirely in Spanish, it comes off as an American hip-hop album.
It sounds as if it was created by the trap gods of ATL and PR. Trust me, after its release, Latin trap albums won't sound the same ever again.
From the album's first track, "Invencible," Eladio sounds 100 feet tall and powerful—as if he was on Game of Thrones and had dragons for a posse. On "Vetements," he reunites with perhaps the only other MC on his level, Myke Towers, for a "Jóvenes Millionarios" Parte Dos. They go bar for bar as if they were they were Clipse in their prime.
Now let's talk about the monster of a focus track, "H.I.M." The sound is reminiscent of Sheck Wes’ “Mo Bamba,” the lyrics are demanding and a quick reminder that Eladio's dexterity in English and Spanish is pretty exceptional. All this to say, it got the LeBron James stamp of approval on social. ‘Nuff said.
The rest of the guest spots were meticulously selected: Neutro Shorty (Venezuela's grittiest), Big Sean (one of the smoothest MCs ever), Jessie Reyez (one of R&B's rebels), Young Miko (simply put: an MC), Peso Pluma (the Mexican supernatural superstar), Lia Kali (one the madre patria's most interesting prospects), Cris MJ (Chile's reggaeton phenom), and Quevedo (Rimas’ big bet on Spain).
A personal favorite is "Ohtani." He flows: “Si corono, todo’ vamo a cobrar (Moolah) / Estive abajo me patearon, no me vo’ a olividar / Firme con mis pies plantao’, yo nunca me vo’ a arrodillar (¡No!) / No te escucho, dilo con el pecho, ‘tas hablando con el boss / ‘Tamo jartándono’, aquí los plato’ dan pa’ do (Rra) / Fumando gasoline, si la prendo, Molotov (¡Moolah!)”
Two years ago, Eladio told me, "I’m not a reggaeton artist. I can do a reggaeton; I know how to do a reggaeton. It’s just that when I get in the studio, it just comes natural to me to go in my folder and go to all the trap or hip-hop beats I have. When I do trap and hip-hop in the studio, I’m like at the gym. I’m getting better, upping my wordplay."
Well, with DON KBRN, Eladio hasn't only stepped up his wordplay, he's elevated Spanish language hip-hop as a whole genre.
Images courtesy of RIMAS/The Orchard.
