5. Big K.R.I.T.

Return of 4Eva (Self-released)

Much like his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi, beat-making auteur Big K.R.I.T. nestled at the midpoint between UGK's Port Arthur, Texas, and T.I.'s Atlanta. But the second of his three stopover mixtapes since he inked his Def Jam deal reveals some undeniable commercial potential behind this hungry scuffler's country-rap cassette nostalgia, candy-coated soul samples, and luxurious twang. Whether politically charged, emotionally drained, or just speaking on speakers, every track rides slow and gleams like it's an international player's anthem. C.W.

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