It’s about to be a year since Big K.R.I.T. shipped us all into an audible vessel heading straight towards Cadillactica, and to this day we’re still orbiting the planetoid of syrupy musical goodness. If not pulling listeners towards its magnetizing journey, the album still exudes that sitting on the front porch on a Sunday afternoon feel that remains unmatched (cue “Soul Food”). So last night (October 14), when Captain K.R.I.T. pushed the following link through his Twitter, it was both a shock and enjoyable surprise.

While it may be labeled as a mixtape, the only thing that relatable to the medium on It’s Better This Way is DJ Drama handling the narration. Other than that, Krizzle’s full-length has an album feel. Songs like the rollicking “86,” which sounds like equivalent to riding an 86 Monte Carlo towards the top of a mountain (Stone Mountain perhaps?), the enlightening “Can’t Be Still,” and the pleasant title track that closes the 14-track release all make this release a well-rounded project that should sit well within K.R.I.T.’s nifty catalog. And to think, he’s built this reputation for solid releases after doing it his way all along.

Stream Big K.R.I.T.’s It’s Better This Way below.