Kencade serves up a raw Hip-Hop statement with album, "Back Like I Never Left"
Some albums feel like they were made in a studio, and some feel like they were made in real life. "Back Like I Never Left" from Kencade is unmistakably the second kind, a record that truly couldn’t have made without living the struggle. This is an album built entirely on lived experience and that authenticity hits you from the title track and never lets up.
Kencade's story is the kind that gives real weight to every bar on this record. Growing up in West Point, Mississippi, he started writing rap songs at just eight years old, working through the streets of Mississippi before ever stepping foot in a real studio. His path from recording that very first demo in his aunt's room to eventually landing in Baltimore, navigating everything from sleeping in his car to time behind bars, gives this project a depth that simply can't be manufactured. You feel all of that history in the writing here and it's what makes this record so genuinely compelling.
Lyrically, this is where Kencade really shines the most. For us, this record popped the most because of the stories. The emphasis on lyricism throughout is huge and he uses it to speak directly on struggle, survival, selling drugs to get by, and lifting up people who've been dealt a hard hand in life. Some personal standouts without a doubt were “I Know Bout That”, “Judas”, and “The Chosen One”. There's a real sense of purpose behind the writing, like every line is earning its place rather than just filling space. His flow throughout is killer too, confident and locked in, carrying that storytelling with real command.
The production matches that intensity beautifully. It's excellent from start to finish, giving Kencade's voice plenty of room to breathe while still keeping the energy moving. What's especially impressive is how well this album understands pacing. It knows exactly when to bring the energy up and get the whole thing moving, and just as importantly, it knows when to pull back and let things get serious. The way he gives the more reflective moments room to actually land is masterful!
At ten songs and just 24 minutes, "Back Like I Never Left" moves with real efficiency, never overstaying its welcome and never padding itself out with filler. It plays like a true album experience from top to bottom, something that feels increasingly rare in hip hop these days. It’s a complete and cohesive body of work which is often traded for a handful of standout singles nowadays. Obviously there’s standouts, but you’d be a fool not to listen from front to back in succession.
Claiming the title "God Of Mississippi" is a bold statement, but this record backs it up with real substance. "Back Like I Never Left" is a powerful, honest listen from an artist who's clearly lived every word he's rapping, and it's an excellent, focused body of work that announces Kencade as a voice well worth hearing.
Even better, he’s got a back catalog that’s worth checking out as well. It doesn’t get more honest and personal than a record like this, which is why we’re overwhelmingly recommending you check it out. It’ll have you in your feels and also hyped at times too! Go ahead and click those links below to listen in, follow along, and of course to stay tuned for more.
Listen to “Back Like I Never Left”
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