Kota The Friend turns the vulnerability up several notches in “JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE!”
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TOP 5 SONGS
5. Whatever You Say
My favorite thing about “Whatever You Say” is that you actually get a no-nonsense, straightforward rap performance from Kota on the track (It’s about damn time). It’s easily his best rap verse on the project.
The song also features one of those energetic, alt-rock instrumentals that f**k with your head, creating a sound just about any artist from any genre could freak. Kota still gives us something catchy, but I think that rap verse is what would have me pressing play on this one again.
4. Regular Show
Am I a sicko for loving the tracks where artists sound depressed? That’s exactly what I love about “Regular Show.” Between the drowsy, lonely-sounding instrumentation and Kota The Friend sounding like he recorded the track after literally picking himself up off the ground, the song feels incredibly raw.
Kota rambles, in the best way possible, about his journey to fame, preferring a simple life, and searching for things that are real. I love the moments when he slips into pockets where his raps hit with a little more force. I just love this track overall.
3. Long Beach II
I can tell “Long Beach II” took a few days to make. There are just so many unique elements to the track: the beat switch, the many different tones we get from Kota, and the effects that get amplified as the song plays on. As a whole, the track has a bouncy, jazzy, free-spirited, thoughtful sound that makes it a memorable listen. I also think Kota sounds his loosest on the project, caring less about what the outcome would be as long as he fully showcased his artistry.
2. Pasadena II
Can we please normalize saying nice things to the people we love? In “Pasadena,” Kota The Friend sets the tone for the project with a smooth track featuring an easygoing tempo, beautiful piano notes, and some of the sweetest words a person can say to their lover, like telling them they would write a love song for them and hoping they’ll see them in the next lifetime, on some Erykah Badu s**t.
I love how Kota doesn’t come through with flashy or over-the-top raps; he simply speaks his mind in the rawest way possible. That’s how you do it.
1. February
How can you not feel good listening to “February”? The track’s feel-good instrumental, combined with Kota The Friend’s optimistic words about the love he’s experiencing and his upbeat, highly intoxicating melody, should make you a fan. Vocally, he sounds like a dude who has a shotgun to his back from his girl, who’s telling him to tell an audience at a small cafe how he feels about her. But honestly, that’s part of the song’s charm.
SONG BY SONG RATING
Pasadena II (5/5)
February (4.5/5)
Adventure Time (Ft. LOONY) (3.5/5)
Long Beach II (4.5/5)
Regular Show (4.5/5)
The Ferry (Ft. Lisa Chiodo)(4/5)
Payback (4.5/5)
Whatever You Say (4.5/5)
Mallory (3.5/5)
Just Like Before (4/5)
RGM RATING
(B+)
One thing I’ve always appreciated about Kota The Friend is that he never sounds like he’s pretending to be somebody else. JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE! continues that trend in a radical way. Across its 10 tracks, Kota gives us music that feels personal, relaxed, and genuinely crafted from real experiences that were dislodged from his heart.
The production we get on this project is very strong. The jazzy instrumentals, smooth grooves, rock touches, and colorful textures give the album an effortless summertime feel. Though I wouldn’t say every beat complements Kota’s raw deliveries (Sometimes, he has to navigate his way through its tricky tides), most set a tone for what to expect before he even says a word.
As for Kota, he spends the album balancing reflective rap verses with melodic performances that fit the mood of each song. While there are moments where I wanted him not to sound like Mase and Diddy from “Jealous Guys,” his honesty consistently pulls you back in. Tracks like “Regular Show” reveal his vulnerable side, while “Whatever You Say” reminds you he can still rap at a high level whenever he wants.
At the end of the day, JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE! is one of the better “She loves me, she loves me not” albums you will hear today. It’s simply good music made by someone who’s comfortable in his own skin. Even though it’s a vulnerable project, I just recommend you don’t play it around dudes who have a few teardrops on their face…
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
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