Live from the Kitchen

A reigning champion of Memphis-based rap, Yo Gotti has spent more than a decade extolling his skills since his 2000 debut, From Da Dope Game 2 Da Rap Game. He's put out six editions of his Cocaine Muzik mixtape series, plus other independent favorites like Life and Back 2 Da Basics. Live from the Kitchen is his first major-label release; it benefits from a gang of big-name collabos, including Gucci Mane, Trina, and Nicki Manaj ("5 Star Remix") and Rick Ross ("Harder"), as well as Big K.R.I.T., Big Sean, Wale, and Wiz Khalifa on the rambunctious posse cut "Go Girl." Radio-ready production comes from the usual suspects: Southern-fried superproducers like Shawty Red, Lex Luger, and Drumma Boy, who provide the requisite stutter-snares, dreamy synth squiggles, and booming low end. Check out the borderline romantic "We Can Get It On" and the ominous "Red, White & Blue" featuring Jadakiss.