By now, many of you are familiar with Big K.R.I.T.'s music, which includes both his work in the booth and on the boards—and he knows it. It's that knowledge that has fueled his departure out of his comfort zone and into the realm of his forthcoming album, Cadillactica.
We sat down with the Mississippi artist, who spoke about his sound for his sophomore release. K.R.I.T explained, "For me it was trying to get back in a space of creating—not just because people want it, not trying to outdo anybody—but just creating a body of music that nobody would expect from me, and that I could obviously grow from myself."
The growth is evident: Cadillactica is K.R.I.T.'s first concept album. On this project, he's dialed back as a producer, allowing others like DJ Dahi, Jim Jonsin, and Raphael Saadiq to assist with crafting the album's framework, giving him space to dig deeper into the writing process. It's his song with Saadiq, "Soul Food," that marks another unique alteration: analog production (something K.R.I.T wants to use whenever possible going forward).
These are only some of the things that Big K.R.I.T. has employed for Cadillactica. The rest will become clear on Nov. 11, when the Def Jam release makes its debut. Check out the interview above to see what else he had to say, including how he feels in retrospect about his state-of-rap single from earlier this year, "Mt. Olympus," and how it came to be.
