A loud, reckless, and energetic deluxe where Ken Carson proves he knows exactly what his fans want.

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TOP 5 SONGS

5. 50k

Do you know what’s funny about “50k”? “rare creature,” the track before it, basically sets up the question, “What are you going to do when you finally get some real money?” Then Ken Carson immediately answers it by making an entire song about having “50k” and doing reckless s**t with it. He talks about shopping overseas, splurging on irresponsible whores, and generally treating the money as if it grows on trees.

I also love the production we get on the track. There’s something almost fantasy-like about the beat that makes the track feel detached from reality. Ken’s delivery fits that perfectly. He sounds incredibly loose (pause), like he’s floating around in the clouds, faded off lean with ridiculous amounts of money in his hand. It’s a very specific vibe, but Carson nails it.

4. roxy reynolds

Do you know one of the biggest things I wonder? How far Ken Carson and Destroy Lonely can go as a unit. On “roxy reynolds,” their chemistry is outstanding, and they come across like two rappers who could genuinely kick your ass.

They both flow smoothly, throw out clever punchlines, and deliver lyrics designed to remind everyone just how competitive they are. All of that happens over a beat scarier than the 76ers this year.

You can tell both of them think they’re the s**t right now, and honestly, when they’re together, it’s easy to see why. Based on this track alone, these two sound damn near unstoppable.

3. 005

Ken Carson has quietly become one of my favorite s**t-talkers, and “005” shows exactly why. The beat is completely unhinged, sounding like something that could send my speakers straight to the emergency room, but Ken somehow remains cool as hell over it. He talks about beating up his opps, refusing to associate with bandwagon friends, getting with women who aren’t his, and staying locked in while making moves everyone else can only watch. I also love how effortlessly he rides the production. Despite how chaotic everything sounds around him, Ken stays composed and surfs across the beat with the kind of smoothness that would make Kelly Slater proud. Well done.

2. 9 bitches (Ft. ApolloRed1)

The jit beef moves way too fast for me to keep up with everything, but I know Nine Vicious recently got on stage and started calling out YSL and YVL. Ken Carson’s response is on “9 bitches,” and yeah, it’s harsh.

The production has a great tempo, a demonic atmosphere, and a melody that gives the chaos some structure. I also love that Ken and ApolloRed1 don’t waste time addressing NV. They call him jealous, take brutal shots at his girl, and make sure the response actually feels like a response. Ken sounds incredibly laid-back throughout, like he’s casually recording this while getting a deep tissue massage. ApolloRed1 brings the complete opposite energy, attacking his verse with a wild, animated delivery. Even if they were dissing here, I would f**k with the s**t.

1. vamp city

Holy s**t, “vamp city” is hard as hell. The production sounds like your ears are getting jumped, with chaotic energy coming at you from every direction. I especially love Ken Carson’s chorus. It’s slick, catchy, and gives the track something to latch onto amid all the madness.

Osamason matches that energy perfectly. He brings the right combination of violence, confidence, and punchiness, sounding completely unhinged without ever feeling completely out of place. He reminds me of that one random dude from school who would crash out between classes and was cool with about 10 different crews. All in all, I’m playing this s**t again soon.

SONG BY SONG RATING

scrape (3/5)

swag jack (3.5/5)

off a bean (3.5/5)

rare creature (4/5)

50k (4/5)

roxy reynolds (Ft. Destroy Lonely) (4/5)

005 (3.5/5)

eaters (3.5/5)

9 bitches (Ft. ApolloRed1) (4/5)

vamp city (Ft. Osamason) (4/5)

fake news (3.5/5)

disturbing the peace (4/5)

13. yvngmvp (4/5)

RGM RATING

(C+)

Has Ken Carson turned into a number one option overnight? That’s honestly how cartunez feels.

After the polarizing reaction to xperiment, Carson comes back with a deluxe that gives fans exactly what they wanted from him: confidence, chaos, wild production, reckless lyrics, and plenty of energy. If the original album left you wondering where the experimentation was, this project feels much more like the Ken Carson people have been asking for.

What I enjoy most is how comfortable Carson sounds throughout these tracks. He raps with the confidence of someone who knows he has the money, attention, and backing to say whatever the hell he wants. In particular, he flexes his lifestyle, insults his competition, and occasionally gives us those humble moments that remind you he didn’t always have this life. That balance is important because it keeps everything from feeling completely one-dimensional.

The production is another major reason this project works. Carson’s chaotic, video-game-like sound can be overwhelming, but his voice fits that style better than most of his peers. He sounds surprisingly coherent over these beats, which helps keep the madness from becoming exhausting. Tracks like “vamp city,” “roxy reynolds,” and “9 bitches” also prove that he can build excellent chemistry with artists around him.

Speaking of momentum, I continue to love how Ken structures his projects. cartunez flows extremely well, and I think the sequencing helps the album get stronger as it progresses (Random: I listened to this album with a pint of Michelob Ultra, and I’m not going to lie, that probably made everything hit harder).

I wouldn’t change much about this project. It gives us the Ken Carson we expected, but with just enough extra juice to make the wait worthwhile.

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.