Music Review: 'A Good Night in the Ghetto'

“I’ve been working all my life, but I wonder/How does it feel to be rich? How does it feel to just live?” sings Kamaiyah on “How Does It Feel?”, the first single from her brand new debut mixtape "A Good Night in the Ghetto." The answer to her question may appear sooner than she thinks. "A Good Night in the Ghetto" is the best debut rap release of the year, and it portends great things from a very talented artist.

Kamaiyah is a 21-year-old rapper and singer from Oakland, and her music is a synthesis of G-funk and the ubiquitous “Mustard-wave” R&Bass music recently popularized by artists such as DJ Mustard and YG. In an age where rap music is getting more and more narcotic both in sound and subject, "A Good Night in the Ghetto" is a breath of fresh air. It’s the most fun rap album in recent memory; all eighteen songs could be potential singles and demand to be played on huge speakers at a party. The production on the mixtape manages to sound both new and old at the same time. Kamaiyah and her associate producers capture the essence of G-funk in a way that pays tribute to luminaries such as Warren G and Dr. Dre while simultaneously freshens it for the digital age. “How Does It Feel?” is an excellent first single that encapsulates her unique sounds. Kamaiyah’s flow on the verses rides smoothly over minimal, Timbaland-esque handclaps and burbling bass and explodes in the chorus.

The rest of the album is similarly masterful at balancing subtlety and jubilance. Songs like “N” and “Freaky Freaks” have the catchiness of vintage Ludacris tracks, with sing-a-long choruses that are perfectly sold by Kamaiyah’s charisma. The production is excellent throughout, though the skits that extend the album could be cut out without incident. The whole mixtape is anchored by Kamaiyah’s matter-of-fact lyrics and deep voice, both of which ground the cosmic production into something gritty and tangible. It is the rare album that revels in positivity and good vibes. While most releases deal with more serious subjects, "A Good Night in the Ghetto" is a quintessential party album that celebrates fun times with friends. To Kamaiyah, the key to happiness is “a hot crew and hot dudes,” and the whole mixtape plays around with this simple theme to radiant effect.

"A Good Night in the Ghetto" is, so far, the most purely joyful and catchy release of 2016. It’s a mixtape that perfectly soundtracks warm weather and summer shenanigans. Kamaiyah might not be rich yet, but her debut signals fame to come.