Kid Advay and Carolina Fiend

My adoration for different type shit is very clearly documented. 

Kid Advay, out of Greensboro, North Carolina, continues to make rap music that doesn’t give a shit about what you purists think. On Teal, his new EP with producer Carolina Fiend, Kid Advay gives us just that. 

Advay’s flow is clearly influenced by some of the melodic, sing-songy elements of a Chance, the Rapper or Vic Mensa. Chalk it up to youth. But what the Kid’s raps also posses is painfully splayed open truth and vulnerability that I can’t help but admire. There’s no pretense or machismo. No false bravado. Only conversational raps woven in strands equal parts courage and skill. He even takes a stab and legit singing on, “Disturbia,” and, “Bur-Mill Park”. 

At times the vocal effects can muddle the message, as there are times I struggled to understand the lyrics, but Carolina Fiend’s flange-heavy yet evocative production made up for it. The guitar elements, the sparse, organic drums make for a perfect rainy day drive. The little droplets racing down the window before combining and accelerating down in wet streaks.

There is a rapport between Advay and Fiend, as the former allows the latter the space to experiment with elements and seemingly disparate sounds to create a lush soundscape that provides the emotive tension of Teal. 

Slow and steady definitely wins here. No hares in this race. The turtle that is Teal is comfortable in its skin. Fall leaves crunch under its stroll. The clouds move faster across the velvet sky than Carolina Fiend's spacious production. Kid Advay’s words float off like chimney smoke. 

Kid Advay is always creative. He's proven that. He always seems just about to stumble onto pure genius. While Teal isn’t that, it is a quality little EP from a partnership that exudes potential in excess. And when they reign it in, I’ll be there applauding a job well done.