Only four months after he released
Islah, his proper debut album,
Kevin Gates kept firing with this EP-length mixtape, itself a sequel to the rapper's 2015 mixtape. On
Murder for Hire II, catchy, radio-friendly choruses are not a concern, leaving
Gates raw and uninhibited throughout. He sets the tone in the opener, chanting "Fuck it, I ain't scared to go to jail," while on "Great Example" he delivers some of his most belligerent boasts while referencing his dependence on heroin. As on
Islah, guest appearances are kept to a minimum, with only OG Boobie Black credited in the track list through the animated "Click House." As should be expected from a secondary release, the quality control here is not as tight as it is on
Islah, but this is
Gates in undiluted form. ~ Andy Kellman