Mix Tape Review: K.i.T. – The Ocean State Great Vol.1

Providence, Rhode Island Native and NU undergrad MC K.i.T. (pronounced “kit”) comes full force in the form of his alter ego, “The Ocean State Great,” on the first volume of his self-titled mix tape trilogy. Released back in January, this free-to-download mix was set to be the first of three put out this year by K.i.T., but no new tapes have since been made available.

Packaged in traditional mix tape style, Vol. 1‘s 24 tracks utilize many popular hip-hop beats and features its own host, DJ JUST-1. Admittedly and especially as a Rhode Islander, I was disappointed when I first realized this, as I’m much more of an advocate for fresh production than rapping over old beats, but upon further listening I got over the stigma associated with this style- thanks to K.i.T.’s knack for wordplay.

Let’s take it from the top. My favorite song off Vol. 1 is definitely ‘€œUncle Ripta,” which features a smooth sample that hearkens back to old school Nas. More importantly, this track pays homage to public transportation- specifically, RI’s Ripta bus system. An observant K.i.T. recounts a ride on the bus by describing vicarious experiences he had- one through a pregnant teen and the other, the homeless- before getting to the real meat and potatoes of matters: history. Toward the tune’s end, a vulnerable-sounding K.i.T. recalls his journey to the back of the bus, complete with an otherworldly encounter: ‘€œRosa Parks grabs my hands and demands I stand up. I couldn’t do it.’€ Maybe I’m reaching here, but it certainly seems as though K.i.T.’s alluding to the de facto segregation that still occurs in states as liberal as Rhode Island. For his brave approach at addressing the situation, K.i.T. gets brownie points from me.

Just when some label-lovin’ listeners might begin to scratch their heads and wonder, “What’s this dude’s deal? Is he tryna be ‘conscious’ or ‘commercial’?”, K.i.T. answers the question himself- sort of. On ‘€œCommercial Vs. Conscious,” he pokes fun at the buzz words with metaphors  like real vs. true and downloading vs. buying. K.i.T. also shouts out Blackstar members Mos Def and Talib Kweli on the track, of course intentionally avoiding putting his own sound in a box all throughout. The whole thing sounds like a one man version of Mickey Avalon, Dirt Nasty and Andre Legacy’s ‘€œMy Dick” (Seriously!)

On a more sour note, and speaking of baked goods, The Ocean State Great bites off a bit more than he can chew on Vol. 1, and the end result reflects this in its inclusion of several weak tracks. For example, “Where They At” attempts to rally the troops with its plea for “party people” but K.i.T. would be better off if he had more to say over its old school-new school combo beat. “Ocean State” utilizes the wrong Lil Wayne song (“La La”) to rhyme over, as K.i.T. hardly does the tune justice with his monotonous tone.

Sometimes, though, the wordsmith finds his niche within a used beat. “Ghost” marks K.i.T.’s most organic flow on the mix, and when combined with the soothing song’s chorus (“they’re tearing down the streets”), it provides a welcome break from the rawness of the rest of Vol. 1.

On “Super Great,” K.i.T.’s “Super” sampling works to his advantage, as he boasts in one verse that, “I prove to thee that I’m worthy/ I’m spittin’ in a rap game that don’t deserve me/ So superb with the words and verbs;/ I’m the best, so I can’t be nothing less than-” [super!]

More lyrical prowess comes to the forefront in the two Notorious B.I.G. songs K.i.T. raps over. Bonus freestyle track “Who Shot Ya” gives a solid impression of what the Rhode Islander would sound like live, while “For The Paper” takes Biggie’s “Warning” to the next level, personifying hip-hop in way Common did on his classic, “Brown Sugar”-inspiring track, “I Used To Love H.E.R.” “Damn, n****s couldn’t get it, so they raped her!/ They killed hip-hop and they did it for the paper,’€ raps K.i.T. on its chorus. Ok, so maybe he’s a little late with that commentary, but one can’t deny how catchy and on-point this song is.

Of course, the times K.i.T. really shines are the times he isn’t afraid to reach deep inside and pull out a word, idea, or even a tune! Perhaps his aforementioned nod to the Mighty Mos Def was more about their vocal parallels than anything else. On tracks like “Love In RI,” the Great’s ad lib-ing inspires listeners to flirt with the idea of K.i.T. the charming singer and rhymer, not just K.i.T. the rapper, and I personally think it’s a good look. Being well-rounded never hurt anyone, and I think if he really fleshes out his talents, he’s sure to create some more pretty interesting stuff.

Semi-new to the game, K.i.T. has performed in Rhode Island multiple times and stopped by NU’s Afterhours earlier this semester. He will take the stage in Curry Student Center’s Ballroom on November 12 as part of HAUTE’s second annual Fashion Trade Show.

Rating: 3/5

Recommended Tracks: ‘€œUncle Ripta,’€ ‘€œFor The Paper,’€ and “Ghost’€