Top 5 Ken Carson Songs That Define His Musical Legacy
Kenyatta Lee Frazier Jr., widely recognized as Ken Carson, is a versatile artist with talents in songwriting, producing, rapping, and singing. At just 24 years old, he has carved out a niche for himself in the music scene with his distinctive hip-hop trap rage music and dynamic flow.
His swift ascent in the music industry is a testament to his original sound and impressive rap skills. Hailing from Atlanta, this artist has garnered attention through his SoundCloud releases and collaborations with fellow rapper Playboi Carti.
Ken’s second studio album, titled X, achieved notable success, landing at 115th on the Billboard 200 and debuting at number 50 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. His third album, A Great Chaos, surpassed the previous album’s performance by reaching number 11 on the Billboard 200 and featuring the hit “Overseas,”which peaked at 79 on the Billboard Hot 100.
This article delves into some of Ken Carson’s most celebrated tracks to date.
Disclaimer: The rankings in this article are based on Spotify streams as of the time of writing.
Top Ken Carson Songs: Including Yale, Fighting My Demons, and More!
1. Yale (285,002,777 Spotify streams)
Featured on Ken Carson’s second mini album, Teen X, released on August 14, 2020, “Yale”showcases his songwriting talent.
This track addresses themes such as street life, loyalty, and resilience, encapsulating the struggles and power dynamics present in that world.
A notable excerpt from the first verse reads:
“Ni**as thinking this sh*t sweet ’til one of they partners disappear/ Give a f*ck ’bout your mama crying, give a f*ck ’bout that lil’ b***ch shedding tears/ Gotta keep the fire by your side because the opps is always near,”
It goes on:
“Double cup, h*, I sip lean, know all these old ni**as sip beer/ All I do is just lead and all these lil’ ni**as just cheer,”
In October 2023, “Yale”earned a Gold certification from the RIAA.
2. Fighting My Demons (136,089,730 Spotify streams)
“Fighting My Demons”is a poignant hip-hop track that delves into personal trials like addiction and inner conflict. The first verse contains:
“She pop X, she pop X, yeah, yeah, she sleep/ Cullinan Rolls Royce, I’m ’bout to pull up to a meet/ Let’s play Russian roulette, b***h, who gon’ die first? You or me?”
The chorus echoes themes of overcoming a toxic lifestyle:
“I been fighting my demons, huh/ I been fighting my—, yeah”
Released on October 13, 2023, “Fighting My Demons”was co-written by Ken Carson along with other lyricists such as Tobias Dekker and Warren Hunter. The song peaked at number 40 on the US Billboard Hot R&B chart and number 2 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
3. Overseas (93,066,775 Spotify streams)
“Overseas”is an innovative single that blends rap’s rhythmic structure with electronic pop influences. Released on April 11, 2024, the track is part of the deluxe edition of A Great Chaos.
The writing credits for “Overseas”include Ken Carson, Pierre Thevenot, Oliver Brown, Nick Spiders, and Stefan Cismigiu.
This song addresses self-worth, as the artist reflects on past choices and embraces a narrative of self-love.
Lyrics from the first verse state:
“I wish I could go back in time to tell myself, ‘Your nеck gon’ freeze’/ I wish I could go back in time to tell myself, ‘Don’t change a thing’
The verse continues:
“I wish I could go back in time to meet you way before I did/ I wish I could go back in time to tell myself, ‘You gon’ be rich’
“Overseas”debuted at number 13 on the New Zealand Hot Singles chart.
4. ROCK N ROLL (88,807,608 Spotify streams)
“ROCK N ROLL,”from Carson’s first full-length album Project X, released in July 2021, exhibits his unique trap style. The song’s writers include Ken Carson, Tobias Dekker, Jalan Anthony Lowe, and Anton Martin Mendo.
This track highlights the wild and unapologetic lifestyle of the rapper.
The catchy chorus states:
“And roll, roll, roll, roll/ Roll, roll, roll, roll/ I wanna rock and roll, you can tell by my clothes/ I get high as f**k everyday, I think I see a UFO”
In the first verse, he addresses critics who underestimated him, emphasizing his rising fame:
“I rock and roll, I rage and they cheer/ You a rat and you told, you can’t come ’round here/ Swear these ni**as be h**s, these ni**as be weird.”
Having surpassed eight million streams, “ROCK N ROLL”is one of Ken’s most prominent tracks.
5. Freestyle 2 (88,478,606 Spotify streams)
Released on July 8, 2022, as part of his album X, “Freestyle 2″features contributions from songwriters Richard Ortiz, Rousseau, Andican, and Ken Carson himself.
The lyrics explore themes of self-confidence, ambition, wealth, and street culture. The first verse highlights this narrative:
“I put that h* in Prada, and after, I made her holler/ And my bro took off your mans, I heard that was your top shotter/ I got Vetements on my pants and my shirt Balenciaga,”
The verse continues:
“I been countin’ blues, countin’ green like it’s Earth Day/ And the ni**a think he me, but he not me on my worst day/ I just spent your rent on my motherf**kin’ shirt/ These ni**as think we playin’, hell nah, this ain’t Nerf,”
The X album, featuring “Freestyle 2,”made its mark by ranking 115 on the Billboard Hot 200 and 50 on the R&B charts.
Other notable tracks by Ken Carson include “Jennifer’s Body,””I Need U,”and “Succubus.”
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