Los Kemet - Chase The Dragon (Album)
Andre 3000 once said “The South got something to say” and Los Kemet just doubled down on it with his latest album, “Chase The Dragon.”
Los Kemet isn’t new to delivering great albums, his entire catalog is proof of that but this one feels like a milestone. It’s Southern-rooted in every way, dripping candy paint at the end of every rhyme. You can smell the country-fried sounds and herbal essence, feel the warm breeze of a Sunday drive and see the fifth wheel swinging slow. And yet, you still haven’t scratched the surface of what this album really is; a layered body of work that feels both nostalgic and forward-pushing.
From the jump, you can tell Los Kemet is building on a legacy. He’s picking up gracefully where Big K.R.I.T. laid the foundation, and the shoutout on the fan-favorite single “Pootie Tang” is a nod to that lineage. It’s a statement that the Southern rap torch is in safe hands.
The album’s guest list is stacked but purposeful with Caterpillar Jones, mynameisntjmack, Eastside Brotha, and more bringing their own flavor without overshadowing Kemet’s vision. The chemistry feels organic, as if they were all in the same room, breathing the same humid Southern air while the beats knocked. “Dead Weight”, a dirty south single that rides high here, with bass that rumbles like a slab creeping down the block. Kemet’s delivery is pure confidence, cutting through the production like chrome on a Caddy. “Gold Painted Monkey Paw” sounds like survival of the fittest in audio form. The storytelling paints a man on the hunt for success, doubters at every turn, yet he overcomes in a luxurious manner that feels both earned and inevitable. “Pootie Tang” is playful but potent, laced with quotables and a vibe that begs for a rewind. “Los’s Lyric” sequencing is tight; even the introspective joints carry the same weight as the bangers. Kemet knows how to weave a narrative without losing the listener’s attention.
The production by Gutty, lim0, crybby & more is rich with Southern texture, bass-heavy yet soulful, warm but polished. It’s candy-coated grit, equal parts backyard barbecue and late-night cruise. You hear elements that nod to UGK, OutKast, and 8Ball & MJG, but Kemet shapes them into his own signature.
Even if you weren’t already a fan and I don’t mean to sound biased this project demands attention. It’s one of those albums that makes you proud to see the South still innovating while holding onto its roots. Chase The Dragon is easily in my top projects of the year so far, and I ain’t bullshittin’. Los Kemet isn’t just repping the South, he’s reminding the world why the South still has something to say.