RHODA

After bringing the likes of Doechii, SchoolBoy Q, SZA, and Kendrick Lamar, among others, into the hip-hop/R&B vanguard, Top Dawg Entertainment’s status as a talent incubator remains intact. Less acknowledged, however, are the in-house producers behind some of these artists’ hit singles and acclaimed albums—not as visible but nonetheless vital figures like Devin Malik, Sounwave, and TaeBeast. The name Kal Banx might not be as familiar as those, but his consistent presence on the beats—and, sometimes, the mic—for several TDE outings makes the arrival of his own full-length debut for the label all the more appealing. Spread out over two virtual discs, *RHODA* follows a promising smattering of singles shared over the preceding year, from the soul-glowing “HOP OUT CHO FEELINS” with Smino and Buddy to the low-key groovy “MOB” with SiR. So, it’s not a huge surprise that the project starts out with a series of collaborative tracks, including posse cuts “400” and “TECH TECH TECH.” Before long, however, listeners begin to get a clearer sense of him as a soloist via the deceptively laidback reflections of “STEPPING STONE” and the pleasure-seeking subversions of “1019.” Understandably, much of the material is self-produced or otherwise co-produced by him, which, to his credit, shows more diversity than some might expect going in, giving gospel energy to “STAY WIT ME” and woozier R&B vibes to “CARE NOW.” Well-versed with Banx’s artistry as applied to his own celebrated album *The House Is Burning*, Isaiah Rashad makes back-to-back appearances on “0022ZAY” and “SUN STORY.” Fellow Texan Maxo Kream brings him back to grimier Southern roots for “ROB THE ROBBER,” while Baby Tate applies hyper-colored texture to their rewarding duet “IG.”