Black Ken

Black Ken is a mixtape by American rapper Lil B. Self-produced and self-released by the artist, the mixtape was officially released on August 17, 2017 and features contributions from iLoveMakonnen. Lil B described the record as his "first official mixtape" and dedicated it as a tribute to various artists such as Kanye West, Iggy Azalea, Lupe Fiasco and Charles Hamilton.[1][2]

Black Ken
Mixtape by Lil B
Released	August 17, 2017
Genre	Deep funk hyphy electro-funk
Length	99:14
Label	BasedWorld
Producer	Lil B
Lil B chronology
Thugged Out Pissed Off (2015) Black Ken (2017)

Although the mixtape's official release was August 17, DatPiff already accidentally leaked the album a day prior.[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Pitchfork	8.5/10[3]

Pitchfork critic Meaghan Garvey gave the record the "Best New Music" accolade, describing it as "27 tracks of deep funk and hyphy that finally define the mercurial Based God" and "a mile-marker along Lil B's journey." Garvey further wrote: "What ties Black Ken together, and what makes it not just a palatable but completely thrilling listen, like stumbling unwittingly into the best block party ever, is Lil B's production throughout—a wild but controlled stylistic breakthrough."[3]

Accolades

Publication	Accolade	Rank	Ref.
Pitchfork	The 50 Best Albums of 2017	43	[4]
The Wire	Best Releases of 2017	47	[5]
Complex	Best Albums of 2017	50	[6]

Track listing

All songs produced and composed by Lil B.[7]

1. "Produced by the BasedGod Intro" - 2:53
2. "Still Run It" - 3:33
3. "Bad MF" - 3:40
4. "Wasup JoJo" - 3:05
5. "Hip Hop" - 2:58
6. "DJ BasedGod" - 6:52
7. "Berkeley" - 5:09
8. "Free Life" - 5:09
9. "Pretty Boy Skit" - 0:38
10. "Young Niggaz" - 3:30
11. "Getting Hot" - 3:42
12. "Go Stupid Go Dumb" - 3:46
13. "Global" (feat. iLoveMakonnen) - 5:20
14. "Ride (Hold Up)" - 3:20
15. "Mexico Skit" - 0:45
16. "Zam Bose (In San Jose)" - 3:24
17. "Go Senorita Go" - 3:52
18. "Turn Up (Till You Can't)" - 3:31
19. "Ain't Me" - 3:18
20. "Raw" - 5:27
21. "West Coast" - 4:16
22. "The Real is Back" - 4:26
23. "Rawest Rapper Alive" - 4:55
24. "Da Backstreetz" - 4:08
25. "Rare Art" - 4:18
26. "Show Promoter Skit" - 0:26
27. "Live from the Island - Hawaii" - 2:53

References

1. Breihan, Tom (August 17, 2017). "Download Lil B Black Ken Mixtape". Stereogum. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
2. Weinstein, Max (August 16, 2017). "Lil B's 'Black Ken' Mixtape Is Finally Here". XXL. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
3. Garvey, Meaghan (August 25, 2017). "Lil B - Black Ken". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
4. "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Pitchfork. December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
5. "The Wire's Best Releases of 2017". Album of The Year. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
6. "Complex's Best Albums of 2017". Album of The Year. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
7. Murphy, Sarah (August 17, 2017). "'Black Ken' (album stream)". Retrieved August 27, 2017.

External links

• Black Ken on DatPiff

See also

• Ken (doll)