the biggest thing i learned from ‘REAL B*TCHES DON’T DIE!’ is that Kari Faux loves to make a statement. from the vibrant cover art to the all caps titles and bold soundscape, this album is made to stand out. and it does that job with ease.

standout tracks: H-TOWN, DOG, WHITE CAPRICE, TURNIN' HEADS

i had never heard of Kari Faux before getting recommended this album, so this review was doing double time as an intro to her music. and as a first impression she blew me the hell away. though she doesn’t have the hottest bars or slickest metaphors, and she’s not much to write home about as a singer, she makes up for all that and more with a fierce style. just off the intro i was hooked. the dreamlike atmosphere set up a glowing background for the message of the album (that real bitches, in fact, do not die) to take point immediately.

now lemme focus in on this atmosphere i just mentioned. Phoelix steps in and takes up the task of producing for this album, and he knocks it out of the park. a master of moods, every beat on the project is tight and provides the perfect canvas for Kari to go to work. on ‘WHITE CAPRICE’ these two laced up something serious. best beat on the album hands down, a great verse from Kari and featuring the legend Gangsta Boo, this song puts you in the moment, like you’re riding top down in a clean classic car all summer. and if that’s the daytime anthem, then the the beat on ‘MONEY ANGELS’ sets the night mood perfectly. giving serious energy to the dark chants from Kari layered on top, while Jazz Cartier slides in with a slick flow to wrap this track up and put a bow on top.

though the album is a great display, perfect, it is not. the issues with the sound aren’t numerous, but are consistent, and to me that means something is up with the stylistic direction. like i mentioned before, i’m brand new to Kari Faux. so maybe this is just her thing, but some of the choices in terms of delivery really don’t click, and it causes a few tracks to sound dry in comparison to others. when she sings it needs to be like how she sounds on ‘DOG’. what is probably the best track on the album, the hook is absolutely enchanting. her performance isn’t so much energetic as it is impassioned, you can really tell the feelings were authentic and it shows in her performance. and can we get a moment of silence out for whoever she’s singing about? sheesh.

but ultimately, the problem with having high highs, is that the lows become all too apparent. a few tracks on this album Kari legit just sounds bored, and i really think it's an issue of choosing the right tracks to fit her talents. her vocal style is very light and airy, which works when she’s pulling support over the beat. but on tracks where she needs to carry the melody she falls flat from the lack of power behind her voice. whether her versatility improves in the future is still up in the air, but for now this project is more than good enough. a great showing from Kari put her on my map for sure, plus it gave me a nice backlog to dig into.

final verdict: put it in the rotation - this album is just damn good. Kari hypnotizes you with her hymns, while Phoelix entrances you in a dreamlike state as you surrender your soul to the two. it’s a vibe and the energy is totally infectious.