A Disappointing Entry

Typically, I am not a fan of long, drawn-out album series, which always seem to be more of a nostalgia play than an actual series of tapes. However, in the case of Kevin Gates’ Luca Brasi series, he has managed to maintain a level of quality throughout, leading it to be more of an endearing series of mixtapes (now album releases). Personally, the first Luca Brasi ranks as one of my favorite mixtapes and serves as a worthy introduction to Gates’ unique style. Unfortunately, this latest entry seems to have broken the streak of at least delivering a solid project with a few bangers.

The album starts off familiar enough with a scathing intro track, complete with Gates’ signature rapid-fire flow mixed with a few melodic moments. However, it takes a nosedive with the G Herbo-assisted track “Thuggin,” in which Kevin taps into an almost comedic voice on the hook, while Herbo does him no justice with his off-beat flow, which is usually hit or miss. “Stutter” provides a bit of redemption with that signature Louisiana bounce and upbeat tempo, but that hope is quickly dashed as the rest of the project suffers from inconsistent themes, lackluster features, and even some production and mastering issues. There are also moments where Kevin breaks from the introspective or scathing bars of the track and veers into some Playboy confessional, overly sexual rants out of nowhere. While the unpredictability of Gates has been one of his more endearing qualities, it feels quite odd in this context.

While I applaud Gates for thinking outside the box with his features, the aforementioned artists on this album provide little assistance in enhancing the tracks in which they appear and seem to try to mimic Gates’ melodic style, leading to diminished value. And it must be said: the YoungBoy NBA-featured song “I AM” may be one of the worst songs released this year. Nothing much else can be said about it except that it should have never made it out of the studio, which is disappointing given the usual great chemistry between the Baton Rouge natives.

In closing, given the existence of Luca Brasi 1-3, there is little reason for even a Gates fan to revisit this project after a listen. While I wouldn’t go as far as to say this signals a “fall-off” for the artist, it definitely indicates that some changes may need to occur within his team, as this album likely should not have seen the light of day in its current state. Hopefully, Kevin can retool and bounce back on Luca Brasi 5; however, if this is the final entry in the series, it’s safe to say that “Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.”

Standout Tracks: “Stutter” “Hiding Emotions” “Panama Cartel”

Album Rating: 👑👑👑 (3.5/10)