BIG30’s Brash Delivery Elevates ‘King Of Killbranch’
As Hip-Hop’s 2022 has hit a dry period when it comes to new music, perhaps now would be a good time for me to talk more in-depth about one of my favorite rappers out of Memphis, BIG30. My first encounter with BIG30’s talent was his feature on Nardo Wick’s ‘Poppin Out,’ a track that was the highlight of Nardo Wick’s Who is Nardo Wick? debut project. BIG30’s feature verse was ultimately the reason why ‘Poppin Out’ remained in my listening rotation as I began to become increasingly infatuated with every listen to the Memphis rapper’s verse.
This trend of BIG30’s music growing on me would continue after I finally listened to his debut project King Of Killbranch. King Of Killbranch originally came out on September 2nd, 2021, however, because of the domination of the Hip-Hop news cycle by the battle between Kanye West’s Donda and Drake’s Certified Lover Boy it flew under the radar. In hindsight, it’s a shame that King of Killbranch flew under the radar that week because I haven’t been able to turn off my favorite tracks from BIG30’s debut since I listened to the full project.
BIG30’s content doesn’t differ from the status quo content that we’re used to out of Hip-Hop artists. BIG30, like most rappers, primarily raps about his disdain for the opps, how rich he is, where he’s from, and the number of women he entertains. There’s nothing to write home about there, however, what there is to write home about is the brash, straightforward way he’s able to communicate his thoughts. BIG30’s delivery sets him apart from the rest of 2021’s rising stars as he creates music that easily resonates with whoever listens to it.
Track four on King Of Killbranch, ‘Dyin’ Expensive’ serves as exhibit A of my BIG30 argument. The track possesses the best beat on the whole album, a compilation of a fast-paced melody, bass pattern, and high-hat pattern that most certainly gives you that extra boost of energy in the gym. The content on ‘Dyin Expensive’ is straightforward, it’s a warning to BIG30’s opps that dying is expensive, best capsulated by the quasi-hook where BIG30 raps, “and I hope you know dyin' expensive, understood, when I see you, I'm firin' my pistol.” The whole track is a brazen, direct warning to BIG30’s opps, allowing his message to resonate with ease.
Track nine and exhibit B for my argument ‘King Of My Projects’ proves my point with the first line of the track. Listeners only get eleven seconds into the track before they can hear BIG30 rap “first off play with 30 you get shot at, biggest gangsta in my city and the king of my projects.” We’ve heard rappers threaten their opps in a countless number of tracks, so much so that we’ve become numb to the general sentiment. So whenever a rapper can express a sentiment more recycled than your water bottle uniquely, they have my ear. With the opening lines, BIG30 quickly establishes the theme of the track, then continues to go in-depth about why he feels that way about himself. Within the first eleven seconds of the track, BIG30 hook’s the listener with a unique phrasing of a common sentiment in Hip-Hop in a way that resonates in its shock value. BIG30 doesn’t waste time trying to tiptoe around his point, instead, he states his claim, then provides evidence to support his claim as if he were writing an academic paper.
BIG30’s brash delivery is a unique talent that sets him apart from the rest of 2021’s class of Hip-Hop rising stars. The Memphis rapper’s delivery adds a level of authenticity of his lyrics. People are more believable when they get straight to the point of what they want to say and BIG30’s music proves that is no different within the realm of Hip-Hop. With the clout era in Hip-Hop starting to wind down if it's not already over, the genre appears to be gravitating back around to the streets. With this gravitation, authenticity will become the most valuable Hip-Hop commodity. Through King Of Killbranch and his feature verses, it appears that BIG30 is ready to capitalize on Hip-Hop’s pivot to valuing authenticity within the music over social media antics.
The future is certainly bright for BIG30 as fans currently await what’s next for the Memphis artist and the latest signee to Moneybagg Yo’s label, Bread Gang Entertainment. There are many ways BIG30 can continue growing out his fanbase, such as creating a collab project with frequent Memphis collaborator Pooh Shiesty. BIG30 would have to continue to flesh out his musical talent if he wants to have a long run in Hip-Hop and King Of Killbranch serves as a great foundation for the Memphis rapper to build on.
