Boston native, Cousin Stizz, recently released his much-anticipated sophomore project, MONDA, a follow-up to his first release, Suffolk County, which was released to critical acclaim. MONDA is a better-developed project which shows Cousin Stizz coming more into his own style and beginning to recognize the benefits and curses of impending stardom. Here are four reasons you should listen to the new Cousin Stizz album:
The Singles
MONDA is led by three singles that should motivate anyone who hears to listen to the rest of the project. Gain Green is an evolution of the typical "money-making" music that rap has become accustomed to. Although the track still has a level of energy, Stizz bounces smoothly over the beat using his bars to produce the feeling of the track. Down Like That has the only feature on the project, Larry June. This track has the most trap influence of any song on the mixtape and is certainly the slap that pushes the entire project forward. The final single, 500 horses, is probably the most popular of the singles and is Stizz's anthem to describe the ways in which his life is rapidly changing as he becomes more well-known and makes more money.
The Flow
Cousin Stizz has a flow that makes his music almost infectious. His flow allows him to bounce on tracks that have a smooth energy and give them a lift that makes them a pleasure to listen to.
The Cosign
Drake co-signed Cousin Stizz's last project when he queued Shoutout, a single from Suffolk County, on OvO Sound Radio. Then, before the release of MONDA, the single Gain Green premiered on OvO Sound. Drake is the authority in these kinds of things right?
The Beats
Stizz returns with the same floaty and spacey production that he featured on Suffolk County. With Latrell James, Lakim, Tee-WaTT & M. Ali, Lil Rich, Dum Drumz, & Cardo getting production credits on the project, the variety of individuals with hands on the project can be seen, but this doesn't destroy the high level of cohesiveness that the project offers.