Kodak Black – Kodak The Blessing (Album Review)

Kodak Black delivers his usual mix of brilliance and frustration on “Kodak The Blessing.”

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TOP 5 SONGS

5. I’ma Be Cool

Kodak Black actually sounds pretty damn cool on “I’ma Be Cool” (what terrific writing by me). The track features hypnotic production that blends trap drums with eerie flute melodies that could charm a snake straight out of a Rap Snacks bag in the hood.

Over the beat, Kodak sounds focused and comfortable. He spends much of the track addressing issues he has with someone he once considered close, calling out envy and disloyalty.

What stands out most is his flow. Kodak glides across the instrumental effortlessly, switching cadences and finding pockets throughout the beat. More importantly, he sounds genuine. Whether you agree with everything he’s saying or not, you have to respect the approach.

4. Better Or Worse (Ft. Fridayy)

It’s kind of funny how “Better Or Worse” lands in two different worlds at once. The production hits with heavy bass and melodramatic energy, giving the track a polished yet tense atmosphere.

Fridayy steps in with emotional, heartfelt vocals, singing about trying to make a relationship work and holding things together with someone he values. Then Kodak Black contrasts that energy completely, bringing a rougher, more guarded perspective where he comes across as if he doesn’t want to get played for nothing.

S**t is split down the middle. Fridayy is speaking from a place of love and effort, while Kodak is operating from caution and street mentality. Somehow, the combo works.

3. Blessing

One thing Kodak Black never gets enough credit for is how strong his intros can be, and “Blessing” is another example of that.

The first thing that grabbed me was Kodak’s delivery. He builds hella momentum as each bar crashes through, eventually ending them with more aggression than Wemby in the fourth quarter of games. The chorus, in particular, feels tailor-made for his style. I literally can’t picture many other rappers pulling it off the same way.

The production helps a lot, too. It’s atmospheric and heavy, creating a moody backdrop that allows Kodak to fully lean into his thoughts. Lyrically, the track feels like a snapshot of someone who’s in a slightly better place than he was not too long ago. He’s not completely healed or transformed, but he’s thankful for where he is in life.

Oddly enough, some of my favorite moments from this track are when Kodak sounds wasted. Maybe my brain damage is finally being put to use.

2. Nunchucks

When it comes to reckless Florida rappers, Kodak Black and 1900Rugrat are basically Kobe and Shaq. That said, both artists can genuinely rap when they feel like it, and they prove that on “Nunchucks.”

In “Nunchucks,” a track with a booming beat and these starry elements I love, the two let loose, with Kodak rapping about balling, cracking someone’s egg like Humpty Dumpty, and getting women to serve him like Tennis. What’s funny is that he sounds extra unruly and childish here. I love that s**t, though.

What if I told you that 1900Rugrat sounds like the more stable one on this track? That’s what happens here. I feel like he has a better command of the beat than Kodak, while saying some outrageous things like being called a wigger and referencing weird relationships with plugs. I really like his verse.

I need a full-blown project between these two.

1. Move (Ft. G Thugg)

If there’s any track I can see getting club play on this album, it’s this one. “Move” features a beat that sounds gassy and ready to throw hands, making it perfect for a lit venue. Kodak Black matches the energy with a chest-out rap style, bragging about his frozen wrist, whacking opps, and having more guns than 2007 T.I.

G Thugg, who probably shouldn’t be on this track, brings the same reckless energy, rapping like he’s ready to catch a case at any moment. Mainly because of the beat, I would run this track back a few times.

SONG BY SONG RATING

1. Blessing (3.5/5)

2. Move (Ft. G Thugg) (4/5)

3. Chicken And Waffles (3.5/5)

4. Thunder Baby (Ft. Shadea Charai) (3.5/5)

5. Nunchucks (Ft. 1900Rugrat) (4/5)

6. Carrie P (3,5/5)

7. Ima Be Cool (4/5)

8. Most Of All (4/5)

9. Prayers Call (4/5)

10. Peter Roll (Ft. Albee Al) (3/5)

11. Loitering (3/5)

12. Neckless (3/5)

13. Running It Up (3.5/5)

14. Better Or Worse (Ft. Fridayy) (4/5)

15. Idols Turn To Rivals (3.5/5)

16. Who What (2.5/5)

17. Yak Gone Do It (3.5/5)

18. Killin Her (3/5)

19. Dearfield (4/5)

20. Gift Of Love (3/5)

21. Handling The Death (Ft. Reese Youngin) (3/5)

22. Lemon Squeeze (3/5)

23. Love Letters (2/5)

24. Bodymore Murderland (3/5)

25. Kumbaya (2/5)

26. American Dream (Ft. Rylo Rodriguez & Lil Crix) (3.5/5)

RGM RATING

(67%)

As a Kodak Black fan, there are a few things you have to accept. Sometimes he’s going to sound completely locked in. Other times he’s going to sound half a sentence away from losing the plot. He’s also going to give you questionable bars, flashes of brilliance, and moments that remind you why people continue to pay attention to him. All of that shows up on Kodak The Blessing.

The production is one of the album’s strongest elements. The beats are loaded with bass, trap influences, and gritty textures, though a handful of tracks show a softer side. It’s the kind of sound that naturally complements Kodak’s style and gives him room to experiment and let loose.

From a performance standpoint, he keeps things interesting. His flow changes constantly, and while not every approach works equally well, he rarely sounds repetitive. The moments where he sings can be surprisingly effective, adding vulnerability to songs that might otherwise feel one-dimensional.

Lyrically, Kodak moves between several mindsets. He talks about relationships, street life, success, self-destruction, and personal struggles, including the rumors surrounding his substance use. Those moments of self-awareness help give the project some weight. I needed to hear that from him.

The biggest drawback is definitely the runtime. At 26 tracks, the album could have benefited from more editing. Even so, there are enough strong moments here to remind listeners why Kodak remains one of rap’s more unpredictable voices.