Rochester, N.Y. rapper POUNDS continues his incredible run of releases with the Pee Wee Kirkland EP, a fantastically produced collection of hard-hitting and chilling street tales from one of underground hip-hop’s most talented voices. It also continues his streak of working with one producer for an entire project, which makes for an even more cohesive listen.
After teaming up with acclaimed West Coast producer Oh No for Borgata earlier this year, POUNDS linked with homegrown talent FITH for Pee Wee Kirkland. It’s fitting, of course, given the obvious nod to the New York basketball star-turned-drug kingpin on here. Kirkland actually serves as a narrator of sorts as he talks about his time in the game alongside POUNDS and his guests’ snarling verses on mafioso-rap burners like “Problem” (feat. Meyhem Lauren) and “Choices” (feat. CRIMEAPPLE).
That being said, POUNDS is clearly in narrative control throughout the EP, thanks in part to the most powerful weapon in his arsenal: that voice. It can make his enemies shiver in fear and his buddies die laughing within seconds. To that end, it’s worth noting that his perceived grim personality is more than capable of humor. Few emcees are capable of delivering threats laced with a Dave Coulier reference, but POUNDS of course makes it sound natural (and hilarious).
