Big K.R.I.T., a Mississippi rapper born Justin Scott, is one of the latest in a crop of hailed would-be saviors of rap with the power to satisfy both casual fans, internet rap nerds, and picky critics. The twist with K.R.I.T., though, unlike other 20-somethings in the same position, is that his sound is unabashedly Southern and hip-hop, skipping the kind of electro-pop production currently in vogue for "urban" radio formats.
On a lauded free mixtape released earlier this year, Return of 4Eva, he married both straight-ahead boom-bap beats to jazzy licks, swampy soul, and an undisguised drawl. Lyrically too, K.R.I.T. never shies away from biting commentary, especially about his industry peers (just note the initials and substance of Return's track "Another Naive Individual Glorifying Greed and Encouraging Racism.") This performance should also include a few selections from the upcoming Last King 2: God's Machine, as well as an opening slot by Mos Def-approved Ohio rapper Stalley.
