Having already signed with the major label Atlantic before this album's release,
Stranger Than Fiction completes rapper
Kevin Gates' deal with the indie imprint Bread Winners' Association, but there's nothing hurried, throwaway, or otherwise "contractual obligation" about it. This dark, smart, lewd, and thoroughly entertaining effort finds the gravelly voiced, repugnant but regretful and reflective rapper taking the introspective style of
Drake and putting in believable gangster settings, all while dropping some quirky party tracks along the way. Check the great "4:30 AM," "4 Legs and a Biscuit," or "Satellites" for proof, or jump right to the hedonistic "Thinking with My D**k," where the worlds of
Pimp C and cloud rap collide, creating quite the druggy, strip-club spectacle. Guest spots from
Wiz Khalifa,
Juicy J, and
Starlito, but
Gates holds them all in check, coming off as worthy ringleader in
the Game or
Birdman style. ~ David Jeffries