11/11 Kodak Wishes

11.11.20

Kodak Black Releases Bill Israel 11.11.20

Normally new music releases on Fridays, but sometimes artists have a means of dropping during the week. This morning, on November 11th, Kodak Black dropped his latest album, Bill Israel. There are a few important things to note here. First, today is 11/11, a magical day and time where everyone makes their biggest wishes. Next, this track has eleven songs on the entire project, keeping with the wishful theme. Finally, Kodak Black remains in prison. What does this mean, and what will this project entail?

Kodak Black has been in prison since April 19th, regarding this latest case. It has been reported that he has been through a lot since his time incarcerated, included being beat up and abused by the correctional facilities officers in charge of looking over him. During these times of COVID and health scares, many of his mates has been freed, though Kodak has constantly been denied any notion of help or freedom. Not to say he deserves to be freed, but certain things here are just noticeably difficult for anyone too withstand. While we have heard that they moved his location and he is no longer being abused by though there to look over him, this album nods to wish for freedom, from the locked up rapper.

The album shares features from Gucci Mane, Lil Yachty, Tory Lanez and Jackboy. It seems like the overall narrative of this album is dealing with jail experiences. How it has made him feel, how it has altered his relationships, and how it ultimately will not break or change him.

This Tory Lanez is a bit questionable. It seems like Tory is just talking about the weapons he possess, and does not mind going to prison over it. What is this, a wish for an arrest? With Tory’s open case with the whole Megan Thee Stallion situation, it does not seem like the best look for this song to be released. Especially with another hip-hop mate whom is currently in prison with no clear view to the outside. I wonder when this track was produced, and if we will hear anything from Tory now that it has been released.

Gucci Mane’s track I am a bit more comfortable with. We have seen Gucci go through it all, and come out on top. Now, him and his wife whom held it down for him the entire time he was in prison, are expecting their first baby boy. This song is about going to jail, but coming back on top. I am not sure Kodak has that support that Gucci did when he was in jail, but with this project coming out and all his features, he definitely has (at least part) of the hip-hop industry waiting for him.

I think that Lil Yachty and Kodak Black will always have a special bond. They both got their big breaks at similar times, doing new and interesting things with their sounds in hip-hop. I like the pairing overall, and their song Make A Hit, just makes perfect sense. They know what the kids today want to hear, what would make it a hit. To me, I think it terrible. But, it is the new generation.

Overall, Kodak does a lot of singing on the album, and expressing himself. The 11/11 release date with eleven tracks was wishful thinking. Hopefully he continues to keep his head up while locked up. The project definitely does not claim his innocence in any way, so I think it will still be a while until we see him on the outside.