Project X (album)
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Project X
| type = studio
| artist = Ken Carson
| cover = File:Ken Carson Project X cover.jpeg
| border = yes
| alt = A passed-out man lying face down on a grass field. The text "Project X" in top center
| released = {{Start date|2021|07|23}}
| recorded =
| genre = * Rage
| length = {{Duration|m=27|s=12}}
| label = Opium
| producer = * Star Boy
- Outtatown
- Bart How
- BryceUnknwn
- DT
- Dynox
- Fallwood
- KP Beatz
- Lil 88
- Loesoe
- Rok
- Y2tnb
| prev_title = Teen X: Relapsed
| prev_year = 2021
| next_title = X
| next_year = 2022
}}
Project X is the debut studio album by the American rapper Ken Carson, released on July 23, 2021, by Opium. Primarily produced by Star Boy and Outtatown, it is a rage and pop-trap album featuring harmonious synthesizers and melodic, fast-paced flows. Its title and cover artwork pay tribute to the Nima Nourizadeh film Project X (2012). Project X received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the production but criticized its songwriting as repetitive and derivative. It nevertheless proved popular amongst rage music fans and helped solidify Carson's place in the rap music scene.
Background and release
In 2019, Ken Carson signed to Playboi Carti's Opium record label. The following year, Carson released his first two extended plays, Boy Barbie and Teen X; the latter spawned his first major hit, "Yale". He also garnered recognition for his work on "Beno!" from Carti's second album, Whole Lotta Red (2020). In 2021, Carson released three further EPs—Lost Files, Teen X: Relapsed, and Lost Files 2—as well as a music video for "Butterfly" (from Teen X) and the single "Patrick Ewing" featuring Lil Tecca. On July 11, 2021, Carson announced his debut album, Project X,{{Cite web |last=Barlas |first=Jon |date=2021-07-11 |title=Ken Car$on drops long-awaited debut album ‘Project X’ |url=https://ourgenerationmusic.com/news/ken-caron-teases-upcoming-album-project-x-with-six-new-songs/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712000118/https://ourgenerationmusic.com/news/ken-caron-teases-upcoming-album-project-x-with-six-new-songs/ |archive-date=2021-07-12 |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=Our Generation Music |language=en-US}} and released it on July 23.{{Cite web |last=A. |first=Aron |date=July 24, 2021 |title=Ken Car$on Delivers On New Album "Project X" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/341583-ken-carson-delivers-on-new-album-project-x-new-mixtape |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107121953/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/341583-ken-carson-delivers-on-new-album-project-x-new-mixtape |archive-date=January 7, 2024 |access-date=January 7, 2024 |website=HotNewHipHop}} Its title and cover artwork pay tribute to the Nima Nourizadeh film Project X (2012).{{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=Liam |date=2021-06-25 |title=Get Ready for the Summer of Ken Car$on |url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/ken-carson-interview-project-x/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.14-112252/https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/latest-products/ |archive-date=2025-04-14 |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=Highsnobiety |language=en}}{{cite web |last=Medithi |first=Vivian |date=August 20, 2021 |title=Ken Car$on Shows Promise but Struggles to Outshine Boss Playboi Carti on 'Project X' |url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.3769/title.ken-caron-shows-promise-but-struggles-to-outshine-boss-playboi-carti-on-project-x |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820233311/https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.3769/title.ken-caron-shows-promise-but-struggles-to-outshine-boss-playboi-carti-on-project-x |archive-date=August 20, 2021 |access-date=November 1, 2022 |website=HipHopDX}} Music videos for "Change", "Rock n Roll", and "Run + Ran" were released thereafter.{{Cite web |last=Jefferson |first=Devon |date=2022-03-23 |title=Ken Car$on Drops Psychedelic Video For 'Rock N Roll' |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.68998/title.ken-caron-drops-psychedelic-video-for-rock-n-roll |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324023225/https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.68998/title.ken-caron-drops-psychedelic-video-for-rock-n-roll# |archive-date=2022-03-24 |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=HipHopDX |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Nimai |date=2022-04-14 |title=Ken Car$on takes listeners on a trip in ‘Run + Ran’ visuals |url=https://ourgenerationmusic.com/news/ken-caron-run-ran-visuals/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414173427/https://ourgenerationmusic.com/news/ken-caron-run-ran-visuals/ |archive-date=2022-04-14 |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=Our Generation Music |language=en-US}}
== Composition ==
Project X is a rage and pop-trap album featuring harmonious synthesizers, percussive Auto-Tuned vocals, and energetic, vocoder-heavy melodies. The album was primarily produced by Star Boy and Outtatown, who both worked with Carson on Teen X. Pitchfork{{'s}} Mano Sundaresan called Carson's delivery "rapid-fire" yet "chill" when compared with Carti's performances on Whole Lotta Red. Likewise, HipHopDX reviewer Vivian Medithi felt that Carson's distinguished himself with his "fast-paced, words-running-together flow". Although Carson said he did not listen to rap or R&B music and listed the All-American Rejects and Blink-182 as inspirations in interviews, Sundaresan felt the album's songwriting and vocals leaned more towards "online rap scenes" such as plugg. Yannik Gölz of laut.de felt that Carson was attempting to portray himself as a hedonistic, partygoing "heartless player", but more often than not came across as a "nerdy [...] kid who's spent far too much time in his life with fashion magazines and Pi'erre Bourne beats."{{efn|Quotes are translated from the original text: "Es ist der nerdige Highlife-Wunschtraum eines Jungen, der in seinem Leben viel zu viel Zeit mit Mode-Magazinen und Pi'erre Bourne-Beats verbracht hat."}}
The opening track "Who's Next" incorporates switched-up flows from Carson and was compared to Carti's 2018 song "Long Time (Intro)" by Medithi. "Rock n Roll" features groovy, psychedelic and percussive synths and sees Carson rap apathetically about being under the influence of drugs. Medithi compared "Party All Day" to "Beno!" and highlighted the lyric "Shawty suckin my dick up like a Juul" as an example of its "memorable lines". "Change" is driven by arpeggiated, harmoinous synths and "muttered" verses from Carson, whilst "Run + Ran" progresses from a piano intro into "gelatinous" 808 drums and sonic melodics reminiscient of Pi'erre Bourne, according to Medithi. "Shake" and "Hella" both revolve around one-word choruses. Medithi compared the former song to Rae Sremmurd and Juicy J's 2018 single "Powerglide". He highlighted the latter and "Clutch" for their combination of heavy, knocking beats and Carson's staccato flows. Gölz compared "Till I Die" to "Rock n Roll" with its "overstimulated and numb" nature and highlighted Carson's use of raspier flows on "Burnin Up". The final track "So What" sees Carson detail the thrill of one-night stand; Gölz remarked that Carson appeared "more pleased about such an incident than a truly heartless player would be."{{efn|Quotes are translated from the original text: "er sich über so einen Zwischenfall wohl ein bisschen mehr freut, als ein echter herzloser Player es tun würde."}} Medithi likened Carson's Auto-Tuned vocals on the track to a "choir of Gameboys starting up on Vyvanse".
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = HipHopDX
| rev2 = laut.de
| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web |last=Gölz |first=Yannik |date=n.d. |title=Mit nerdigem Rage-Sound bei Carti gesignt. |trans-title=Signed by Carti with a nerdy rage sound. |url=https://laut.de/Ken-Car$on/Alben/Project-X-116635 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729092916/https://laut.de/Ken-Car$on/Alben/Project-X-116635 |archive-date=2021-07-29 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=laut.de |language=de}}
| rev3 = Pitchfork
| rev3score = 6.0/10{{Cite web |last=Sundaresan |first=Mano |date=August 12, 2021 |title=Ken Carson: Project X Album Review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/ken-cardollaron-project-x/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413071230/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/ken-cardollaron-project-x/ |archive-date=April 13, 2022 |website=Pitchfork |access-date=November 1, 2022 }}
}}
Project X was released to mixed reviews from critics.{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-01-25 |title=11 facts you need to know about Ken Carson, Atlanta’s rising rap star |url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/11-facts-you-should-know-about-ken-carson |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.14-112651/https://www.revolt.tv/article/11-facts-you-should-know-about-ken-carson |archive-date=2025-04-14 |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=Revolt}} Pitchfork{{'s}} Sundaresan said the "lazy" nature of the album's songwriting became more apparent as it went on and accused Carson of "trying to emulate Carti's chaos or Lil Uzi Vert's velocity" on songs like "Shake" and "Hella", which he found repetitive. Despite this, he felt the album partly succeeded in providing a "sweeter, less scorched and serrated" approach to the rage sound of Whole Lotta Red. HipHopDX{{'s}} Medithi highlighted Carson's sense of melody and the album's production and felt that "when Project X succeeds, Ken's music feels as kinetic and hedonistic as the movie the album is named after." However, he thought Carson appeared "boxed in by expectations" of being signed to Carti's record label and criticized his monotonous delivery. Gölz of laut.de said its sound was "fairly monochromatic", but "honed to just the right level" to highlight Carson's strengths.{{efn|Quotes are translated from the original text: "recht monochromatisches [...] perfekt auf den Punkt gestutzt wurde"}}
Despite its mixed reception, Project X proved popular amongst rage music fans and helped solidify Carson's place in the rap music scene. Anthony Malone of HipHopDX stated that the album "quickly [accumulated] a massive following" and made Carson "a marquee figure in rage culture".{{cite web |last=Malone |first=Anthony |date=July 20, 2022 |title=Ken Carson 'X' Lacks Identity While Being Lapped By His More Talented Peers |url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.3897/title.ken-carson-x-album-review# |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731015236/https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.3897/title.ken-carson-x-album-review |archive-date=2022-07-31 |access-date=September 15, 2022 |website=HipHopDX}} David Crone of AllMusic said the album "pushed Carson's template into the rap zeitgeist almost overnight, with his bass-heavy and feverish style finding viral success on online platforms."{{Cite web |last=Crone |first=David |date=n.d. |title=Ken Carson Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More ... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ken-carson-mn0003808453 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250329222228/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ken-carson-mn0003808453/ |archive-date=2025-03-29 |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=AllMusic |language=en |quote=}} John Norris of VMan credited it with placing Carson "at the vanguard of new Atlanta rap".{{Cite web |last=Norris |first=John |date=2023-10-18 |title=On His Second Album 'A Great Chaos', Ken Carson Is More Than "Just Ken" |url=https://vmagazine.com/article/on-his-third-album-a-great-chaos-ken-carson-is-more-than-just-ken/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018190504/https://vmagazine.com/article/on-his-third-album-a-great-chaos-ken-carson-is-more-than-just-ken/ |archive-date=October 18, 2023 |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=V |language=en-US}} "Rock n Roll" and "Run + Ran" have been described as highlights from the album by music critics, with Norris calling both tracks Carson's signature songs.
Track listing
Credits adapted from Apple Music.{{cite web |title=Project X by Ken Carson on Apple Music |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/project-x/1679853925 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402212346/https://music.apple.com/us/album/project-x/1679853925 |archive-date=April 2, 2023 |access-date=April 13, 2025 |website=Apple Music |publisher= }} To view individual song credits, click on the three dots and select "View Credits".{{Track listing
| headline = Project X track listing
| total_length = 27:12
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Who's Next
| writer1 = {{hlist|Kenyatta Frazier, Jr.|Cas van der Heijden}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|Loesoe}}
| length1 = 1:45
| title2 = Rock n Roll
| writer2 = {{hlist|Frazier|Anton Mendo|Tobias Dekker|Jalan Lowe}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Star Boy|Outtatown|Lil 88}}
| length2 = 2:31
| title3 = Party All Day
| writer3 = {{hlist|Frazier|Mendo|Dekker}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|Star Boy|Outtatown}}
| length3 = 2:16
| title4 = Change
| writer4 = {{hlist|Frazier|Mendo|Dekker|Lowe}}
| extra4 = {{hlist|Star Boy|Outtatown|Lil 88}}
| length4 = 2:41
| title5 = Run + Ran
| writer5 = {{hlist|Frazier|Mendo|Dekker}}
| extra5 = {{hlist|Star Boy|Outtatown}}
| length5 = 4:04
| title6 = Shake
| writer6 = {{hlist|Frazier|Mendo|Dekker}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|Star Boy|Outtatown}}
| length6 = 2:06
| title7 = Hella
| writer7 = {{hlist|Frazier|Mendo|Dekker|Bart van Hoewijk}}
| extra7 = {{hlist|Star Boy|Outtatown|Bart How}}
| length7 = 2:41
| title8 = Clutch
| writer8 = {{hlist|Frazier|Rok Curkovic|Jacco Troost}}
| extra8 = {{hlist|Rok|Fallwood}}
| length8 = 2:11
| title9 = Till I Die
| writer9 = {{hlist|Frazier|Dekker|Lowe}}
| extra9 = {{hlist|Outtatown|Lil 88}}
| length9 = 2:09
| title10 = Burnin Up
| writer10 = {{hlist|Frazier|Bryce Frizell|Travis Nelson Barker|Brodie Fallon|Dorien Theus}}
| extra10 = {{hlist|BryceUnknwn|Y2tnb|Dynox|DT}}
| length10 = 2:35
| title11 = So What
| writer11 = {{hlist|Frazier|Curkovic|Kenneth Pannu}}
| extra11 = {{hlist|Rok|KP Beatz}}
| length11 = 2:13
}}
Additional credits
- Benjamin Lidsky - recording (3–11), mixing
- Colin Leonard - mastering
Notes
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_n5ah1mo5Y3CbAqKM3bjRuzzEttKx28bX0 Project X] on YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)
{{Ken Carson}}