Columbia, Maryland emcee/producer K.A.A.N. dropping off his 28th LP. He’s delivered numerous standouts in his ever-growing discography like Black Blood, the Ski Beatz-produced Requiem for a Dream Deferred, the Big Ghost Ltd.-produced All Praise is Due, Mission Hillz, The Death of a Rapper & The Nightly News both produced by former Strange Music in-house producer MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. Seven, Peace of Minds and Delusions of Grandeur & In Due Time both produced by DJ Hoppa. Only a few months after the poorly received Yesterday, he & Hoppa are going to Anger Management.
The title track works in a flute with some kicks & snares to talk about being a problem child wylin’ whereas “Back to It” keeps a boom bap vibe instrumentally so he can see who’s really tough or not. “I.D.C. (I Don’t Care)” brings some organs into the fold to take 3 & a half minutes of not giving a fuck just before “What Do You See?” asks if one feels like him whenever you look in his eyes.
Coyote makes Anger Management’s sole guest appearance on the single “Breaking Bad” paying homage to my favorite show of all-time leading into “Smoke & Mirrors” talking about shit not being what it really seems. “Ego Death” has an eerier boom bap vibe addressing the kind whose thoughts are controlled by their self-esteem while “The Infamous” keeps it in the basement elevating above the minimals.
We get a sequel to “The Problem” where K.A.A.N. talks about having a bone to pick while “Illin’” feels like a full 90s throwback proclaiming to be the illest. “Comment Section” jazzily suggests to keep whatever they have to say in the social media comments while “Fuck ‘Em Up” suggests everyone else mind their own business. “Point of No Return” finishes the year-long trilogy by admitting he didn’t learn much & possibly erupting.
Some feel like K.A.A.N.’s whole trifecta with DJ Hoppa has overstayed it’s welcome & I would have to disagree with that because Anger Management can certainly hang with Delusions of Grandeur & In Due Timeamongst the Maryland chopper’s greatest material of his entire career. Hoppa’s boom bap production is a huge upgrade from Yesterday’s & lyrically, Knowledge Above All Nonsense does a fine job of holding the fort by himself other than Coyote’s appearance.
Score: 9/10