All one can truly say is, "WOW," and laugh when listening to Kia Shine's Due Season. It seems that the more new artists come to the forefront of the hip-hop hustle, the more ridiculous and outrageous the songs are. So after seven years of grinding and making moves, it's only natural to wonder if it's truly "due season" for Memphis, TN artist, Kia Shine. His single "Krispy" sounds like it should have been the marketing jingle for the cereal Rice Krispies. (Sing along, "I'm so krispy; I'm so krispy!") Unfortunately, it didn't go in that direction and, instead, it hit radio waves across the country. The whole song is about dressing a certain way and having these rocks and that bling. Sounds cliché already.
This entire album is propelled by production. With the astronomical work of Triz Wiz, Street Knok, T-Mix, Young Sean, Play N Skillz, and Rap Hustlaz, there's no way you couldn't groove to this album, however, the biggest downfall is the content on Due Season. Kia Shine overdoses listeners with topics of clothes and shoes in every other hook or bar (Think of a small child jumping up and down saying, "look at my new shoes!") The fourth track, "I Be Everywhere," featuring Jim Jones, who drops a basic "I'm a just get paid" verse, is an evident attempt to provide a dope collaboration, but it turns out to be a true disappointment. Kia Shine's "ABC Flow" is housed by Rap Hustlaz's catchy, head boppin' beat, but he ends up wasting a good beat. In this track he claims, "You gonna respect my grind, I be everywhere / I gotta show and prove / I gotta show 'em who / the flyest hustler out in the south / kinfolk look at my shoes, look at my jewels / I done paid my dues." It's at this point that Kia Shine cements his title as another cookie cutter artist.
"Bluff City Classic" is one of the better songs on the album. With a Teddy Pendergrass sample, and the presence of 8 Ball & MJG, the entire flow of the song is very regal and laid back. It's something to vibe to while smoking an L or unwinding with a drink or two. The title track on the album is a replica of Kanye West's "Last Call," from the College Dropout, which again proves that Kia Shine really doesn't have anything unique about his style of music.
Though his grind can be respected and is reflected through his drive and movement, he raps so much about his treads that perhaps he should have considered a career as a fashion designer. Due Season becomes repetitive just a few songs in; there should be a sticker on the CD that reads, "Purchase at your own risk."
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