Kenny Mason – BULLDAWG (Album Review)

Kenny Mason made an album that sounds like five different personalities fighting over the aux cord.

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TOP 5 SONGS

5. COME TRUE

I actually like it when Kenny Mason leans into the rock-hop lane, and he executes it best on “COME TRUE.” First off, I absolutely love the instrumentation. It carries this dark energy while mixing in edgy rock elements that bring out the rebellious teenager in me who wanted to yell at his parents over nothing. Kenny also does a great job switching up his delivery constantly, hitting us with his outside voice, inside voice, and what sounds like his trapped-inside-a-computer voice. The track feels chaotic in a good way. It is basically rebellion packaged into genuinely entertaining music.

4. BE WHAT YOU WANT (Ft. Paris Texas)

I think Paris Texas has one of the dopest names in the game today. It’s just so random as f**k. Anywho, on “BE WHAT YOU WANT,” rebellious energy completely takes over. The instrumental is wild, sounding like an action-movie soundtrack seconds away from crashing into a wall. Kenny Mason keeps things grounded with a smooth, hushed chorus that might honestly be the catchiest hook on the album.

Meanwhile, Paris Texas steals the spotlight with a performance that feels all over the place in the best way possible. At first, he glides over the beat smoothly, almost like a younger Frank Ocean, but then he starts twisting his voice and sounding completely unhinged (He kind of lost me towards the end of his verse, though). Overall, the track is fascinating to listen to, especially considering both Kenny and Paris come across as two dudes who probably live to buck the system.

3. CITGO

“CITGO” is harder than trying to beat the OKC Thunder when the refs got eight hours of sleep. The production is what immediately catches my attention. It’s dramatic, but also has a helluva knock; something that might make the vital organs in your car speakers start to fail. Kenny raps with hella command, riding the beat extremely well, switching flows, and letting us know how much he’s focused on pretty women, making money, and keeping it solid (My jigga). I think his best rap performance is found here.

2. TEST ME (Ft. JID)

The very first time I heard Kenny Mason was actually on “Dance Now” by JID, so I’m glad they decided to reconnect on “TEST ME.” While I do not fully love the moments where Kenny sounds like he is under hypnosis at the beginning, once the track really kicks in, everything starts clicking. Kenny attacks the beat with this controlled yet erratic flow, talking slick while rapping with more bass and aggression than usual.

As for JID, he completely flips the track upside down with the kind of mechanical, rapid-fire flow that always works for me. His verse absolutely delivers. Out of every song on this project, this is easily the one I can see myself replaying the most.

1. FIND GOD (Ft. Dominic Fike)

I’m really starting to enjoy these rapper collaborations Dominic Fike keeps jumping into. He has one of those styles that naturally connects alternative music with hip-hop. On “FIND GOD,” he steals the show with a quirky, catchy chorus layered over moody production. His lone verse on the track also feels especially raw, touching on frustration with the type of news that comes his way (He must be tuning into NewsNation lately).

Kenny Mason keeps things introspective on his end too, although his approach does not completely match the vibe of the instrumental to me. Even so, the chemistry between both artists is solid, and the track easily stands out as one of the stronger moments on the album.

SONG BY SONG RATING

1. BULLKILLER (3.5/5)

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RGM RATING

(77%)

Kenny Mason has built a reputation as one of the most unpredictable young artists in hip-hop. One minute, he sounds like a gritty Southern rapper ready to knock your speakers over with bass-heavy production. The next, he sounds like someone who grew up listening to punk rock, alternative music, and soul samples equally. That unpredictability is exactly what defines his latest project, BULLDAWG.

From a production standpoint, this album is all over the place, but intentionally so. You get booming trap production, warm soulful sounds, and experimental moments that feel completely detached from traditional rap structure. “WHATUWANNASAY?!” leans into chaotic, almost metal-inspired energy, while “FIND GOD” carries a bluesy sound that feels unusually reflective. It is obvious Kenny Mason listens to a little bit of everything, and instead of picking one lane, he attacks all of them fearlessly.

Lyrically, Mason balances street talk with introspection. Sure, there are bars about opps, survival, and aggression, but there is also plenty about growth, identity, and trying to understand himself. At times, he sounds rebellious and dismissive of outside opinions. Other times, he sounds vulnerable and uncertain.

What makes Kenny fascinating is also what makes him difficult to fully connect with. As a rapper, he constantly shapeshifts. On tracks like “CITGO,” he attacks beats with aggressive flows and undeniable presence. Meanwhile, songs like “HERE II STAY (Interlude)” reveal a softer, more emotional side. Sometimes it feels less like you are hearing Kenny Mason himself and more like you are hearing him test different characters and personas.

The guest appearances all fit naturally. JID shines on “TEST ME,” while Dominic Fike and Paris Texas help strengthen the album’s more experimental moments.

Ultimately, ‘BULLDAWG’ feels less like a fully realized statement and more like an extremely talented artist throwing every idea at the wall. The talent is undeniable. The direction? That part still feels unfinished.