Da Devil's Playground

the take

A part of me will always give this project a slight side eye because I've heard the original 1994 version of Koopsta Knicca's "Da Devil's Playground"... but I digress. I can't full-on hate on it, though. This version still contains bangers that are in higher quality than the original. DJ Paul has always been ahead of his time with his production, and his work on here is no exception. The samples used, his beat patterns, his DJ mixing; everything is perfect. The atmosphere is dark and creepy, which fits Koopsta Knicca well. Koop, as well as others who appeared on here, delivered incredible verses with their respective distinct flows containing many quotables that must be rapped along to. The project is mostly consistent from top to bottom. My favorites from this album always depend on my mood, but "Smoking on a Junt" and "Now I'm Hi (Pt 2)" is among my top two. While I prefer the original version of "Da Devil's Playground", this is still a must-listen for anyone trying to get into Memphis Rap, as well for me to revisit more often.