Kirko Bangz, Progression 2: A Young Texas Playa

During his recent rise, Kirko Bangz has been compared to Drake for his similar tone of voice and the manner in which he raps about women, but the Warner Bros. signee has been carving out his own identity, as well. Off the success of his buzzworthy singles, "What Yo Name Iz" and “Drank In My Cup,” Kirko rides with the similarities on his mixtape, Progression 2: A Young Texas Playa, rhyming about lurid tales and an assortment of matters of heart with various females, while getting throwed for his city Houston over slow-moving, chopped and screwed beats.

The young MC kicks of the 13-track compilation rapping brashly over the instrumental for DJ Khaled’s “I’m On One,” boasting, “I’m the fucking last king, eating dinner with the Mayans/Yeah, you riding for your city, but I’m driving…bitch!” “The Crew” has Kirko jacking Drake’s instrumental for “Crew Love” and shamelessly declaring, “We know that you the type of nigga to fall in love with pussy/We the type to fall asleep, don’t even touch the pussy.”

“Fuck Action (Freestyle),” “KnowmtaImbout” featuring Paul Wall and “I s A Playa” finds Bangz getting chopped and screwed for H-Town, while he continues to tackle relationship matters with joints like “Play Me” and “That s Not Right.” The AMG representer shows some versatility on "Touch The Sky," an candid reflection of what he's going through, and “Ugly Bitches,” which provides comedic relief with Kirko humorously saying, “Superhead hunter, every night it’s going down/But the bad part is she weighs about 300 pounds…damn.”

He’s no Drake, but Kirko Bangz is a legit talent and a worthy listen in his own right. Progression 2: A Young Texas Playa proves it. —Mark Lelinwalla