Knik Bentley is placed firmly in the realm of having an ‘unmistakably familiar’ sound

Knik Bentley grew up listening to artists such as Drake, Michael Jackson, and OutKast. His mother would introduce him to House Music, increasing his style of music, while later his manager would show him how to truly appreciate the beauty within great lyrics and vocals without using explicit lyrics all the time. Not only does the collection of songs I heard by Knik Bentley place him firmly in the realm of having an ‘unmistakably familiar’ sound, but it is also one of the most eclectic collections of rap songs I have heard recently. And, whereas most artists fail to pull this type of variety off with a high degree of success, Knik makes it seem as though it comes easy to him (which it probably does). The guy is certainly dancing to the beat of his own drum, and that means that this collection isn’t bogged down with anything meant to exclusively appeal to what’s popular by the standards of today’s radio.

I admit that “Band Up” started off by throwing my ears a curve which they weren’t sure how to respond to. “Flexin On Purpose” and “LA Watts” are insanely funky and yet icy. It’s almost jarring, and you may initially find yourself thinking that the entire collection will carry a similar sound. Beyond that, every single track delivers something beyond original and wildly addictive. You’ll be ready to listen again as soon as these songs end. The wow factor you’ll feel with regard to the intricacies of everything going on here, from the music to the raps themselves, on “Nights Out” and “Wavy Rio” is simply too high to avoid taking on again and again and again.

But mentioning only the rap genre here is really doing a disservice to the artist behind it all. When I tell you that the music and vocal styling is all over the map, I mean it wholeheartedly. Knik Bentley is something I would define as more than a rapper; he is the epitome of rarity with regard to the urban arts. People who claim that rap has nothing to offer the mature musical sensibility clearly have not heard Knik Bentley yet. He raps without all the fake swagger and hyped-up rhyming, sounding more like a long lost friend having a one-on-one chat.

Overall, the sound is very creative, original and infectious. The other high point for me is the absence of too many choruses. While I don’t mind chorus driven songs, these tunes don’t need them. They excel during the verse portions, ignoring the usual overbearing, repetitive or boring pops hook. I wish more artists would fly away from chorus driven construction, and just do what they do best: write verses. The majority of these tracks do just fine with Knik Bentley’s easy-going verses and the almost understated vocal hooks, here and there, which do not disrupt the flow of the songs. Without a doubt, Knik Bentley is great at making his hip-hop/rap music unique.