Atlanta-born and bred artist, Killumantii released her debut album ‘My Bad I’m Late‘ in October 2022 under the Generation Now/Atlantic record label. Although we’re late in reviewing this album. I promise you it’s worth the wait. My Bad I’m Late!
Listening to it the first time was an exhilarating experience, too much that. I had to sit and absorb Killa’s offering. One thing was sure after that first listen, Atlanta female rappers have that “IT factor” that is ingrained in them from birth.
Killa introduces ‘My Bad I’m Late’ with Get Em Girl, and it’s the desired intro track. The song kicks off with dramatic instrumentals that invite a group of choral singers, then it pulls back to a halt. Killumantii starts spitting about goals, manifesting a list of material things, being the most real rap girl around, and getting to the bag the real way.
She’s literally running circles around her peers in the game. I love the pace she strode for on this intro track just because it meshes well with the beat production.
My Twin comes up next as track two. This song Is more laidback in terms of the pace of her flow. Killumantii raps about close relations with her girlfriends. It’s a typical sisterhood anthem reminiscent of the like such as Best Friend by Doja Cat & Saweetie. My Twin is a term of endearment that young girls used to describe their friends as “ride or die”, loyal, or someone willing to get up to anything friends do. Killa paired the song with a fun music video emanating the lyrics.
The album drives into Repeat, a song that emulates an interlude. I love the way Killa transitioned to this song, due to how it sounds like a guide on where the album is heading.
It’s short, with a subtle overall production and uncomplicated lyrics. A breather.
And I hit it right on the nail. On Repeat, she seems to be addressing a guy–her ex. Expanding on him trying to get back in and “repeat.” But she reiterates why she doesn’t want to. Now, with Steppin, it’s a different approach to beat selection and delivery.
“Steppin out of character, I’m on the moon now, Almost had to slap a nigga, out his shoes now, Thousand dollar outfit and it’s only Wednesday, Thousand dollars on the calamari cause I’m up now, You pressed now bae
I don’t do interviews
You the fuckin press now bae, It ain’t easy to impress me, So earn me
It ain’t easy to impress me, Ya heard me?”
Killumantii puts storytelling to another definition. She is probably one of the newer female rappers who relays a story with conviction and layers in tones, especially when she asks the question “ya heard me?” All of this adds more value to the song. It’s my favorite so far.
On Prove Me Wrong Killa isn’t easy to trust anyone with just about anything. Kill raps about seeing betrayal all her life, and links past hurt with historical/biblical references,
“Like Cain and Abel/I done seen betrayal
I don’t know if you around for the season, Or you gone stick around for the long (aye) Guess you gotta prove me wrong.”
The beat assembly rides perfectly with her delivery. The “thud thud” pause and then “thud thud” again is pleasing to the ear.
Killumantii switches up her flow, again, on the next song Black Wall Street. She exercises her lyrical ability on this track, there isn’t a lick of ABC rap. She says,
“Baby, I don’t vent
‘Cause that’s how your words get bent
And that’s how rumors get sent
And that’s how yo’ block get spent”
That roster of “vent” or “bent”, “sent” and “spent” is spectacular. It flows and doesn’t sound forced. Excellent delivery on the first verse. She talks that “boss talk” on the repetitive hook,
“Get you gone in two-point-three, that’s the nerd in me
Name a bitch that’s better than Kill, that got skill? I’ll wait
Okay, back to the heat, bitches know they can’t compete
I’m fire, I’m really paid like Black Wall Street”
Young And Turnt ushers in, more on that stunting theme. She seems to go through a nonchalant, unfeeling phase on this track. Although Kill boasts in each verse of the song, she doesn’t lose the penmanship a real mc has.
“Keep it one hundred, Anything else is just too synthetic, Young and Turnt, But for this money I go full athletic
Don’t need no sweet shit ’round me baby like a diabetic, These hoes ain’t real, these hoes be faker than a prosthetic“
On Thinkin, Killumantii reflects on a “Whole lotta shit, Whole lotta shit/Thinking bout a whole lotta shit, whole lotta shit, Man I’m on some whole other shit, whole other shit Man on some whole other shit, whole other shit Thinking.” It’s enjoyable and an imperturbable song. She delivers on cadence, crisp enunciation, and narration.
Kill channels “Big Kill” on Bag Jump. She gets real about building her brand, and career brick by brick. She isn’t bothered that everyone else is keeping scores because she’s in a different league and ups the ante on all accounts. The support from her team and work ethic result in affording the finer things in life. They’re “…on the top floor with this shit.”
The closing song on ‘My Bad I’m Late,’ Last Word, is discussing breaking into the game without acquiring formal qualifications or any other forms of backing. She mastered the game with her finessing and talent. Killumantii further touches on nothing holding her back, she always has the last word.
“Couple snakes that be in the back, soon as my back turnt
That’s my word, I’m keeping that
You niggas can keep the cap
You don’t know about the late sessions on the couch right where I was sleeping at, Had to cut all the puppet heads, I don’t want no strings attached
Ima get the last word, just speaking facts”
Killumantii put her best foot forward on her debut album. My Bad I’m Late delivered on narration, beat selections, and cohesiveness. The album flowed, and every song selected to complete it seem to fit. It’s a solid debut album.