The Story of "My Sub"...

With the recent release of "4eva is a Mighty Long Time" Big K.R.I.T has been receiving some great reviews from both critics and casual fans of hip-hop. Anyone that knows of Big K.R.I.T. knows that this album has stayed true to his lyrical southern style as well as has shown K.R.I.T.'s willingness to experiment with different sounds and styles. One of the best tracks on the album is "Subenstein (My Sub IV)" which is a continuation of the "My Sub" track series that has shown up on a few of his projects. So let's look at this story more in detail, the story of "My Sub".

My Sub
My Sub first appeared on the mixtape "Return of 4eva" which was released in 2011. It was the introduction to a series that focuses on hard hitting bass followed by just as hard hitting lyrics. The song tells the narrative of K.R.I.T and his love for his sub-woofer and the joys that come with turnin your system up and listening for that almighty bass. Toward the end of the track there is a transition to a more soulful sample from Regina Belle entitled "Baby Come to Me". where K.R.I.T., but still makes it clear that you ain't fuckin with his sub.

My Sub (Pt. 2 The Jackin')
The second installment of the track series is called "My Sub (Pt. 2 The Jackin')" from Big K.R.I.T's studio album "Live From the Underground", which was released in 2012. Here K.R.I.T makes it clear that he still is beating down the block as he delivers an aggressive flow and of course plenty of BASS!! The track feels like K.R.I.T is out to make a point and doesn't sugar coat it or care who feels some type of way about it.

The song continues the structure from My Sub 1 where there is a transition. This time it transitions into a skit where K.R.I.T. is getting jacked. Immediately after a screwed up voice starts repeating, "Last night a DJ saved my life". This is a reference to the track "Last Night A D.J. Saved My Life by Indeep. What's also interesting about this sample is that it uses the Chopped & Screwed sound which is a style created by southern D.J and pioneer D.J Screw. Take a listen to how it all goes down.

My Sub Pt. 3 (Big Bang)
The third installment to the series is the track My Sub 3 Pt. 3 which comes from the studio album Cadillactica released in 2014. It is more fun more braggadocios than seen on the first installment and incorporates a lot of different sounds, instruments, snares, and 808's. There is also a subtle background ad-lib "wohhh ohhhh" that is similar to Big Tuck's "Not a Stain on Me". Traditionally the My Sub tracks have switched to a different beat, but instead this time it seems as if he more or less strips the song down to a smoother more soulful sound with a guitar and him harmonizing . Listen up and see if you can hear it.

Subenstein (My Sub IV)
Suberstein (My Sub IV) is the latest installment to date from his studio album "4eva is a Mighty Long Time". With it's October 2017 release it seems that K.R.I.T. had Halloween in mind when naming this track with the Frankenstein like name. Combine this with the fact that he talks about his sub coming alive when they said bass died, another reference to this Halloween theme. Another note about the track is that super producer "Mannie Fresh" who produces the track and and also samples himself from his "Still Fly" track which can be heard right before the bridge comes in. "And then I heard BOOM! from the amplifiers". Even with this new sound there is a familiarity during the transition with a screaming guitar and K.R.I.T harmonizing on the track. But the same narrative holds true, that it's all about the all mighty Sub.

So far there have been 4 installments of the My Sub series and as you can see Big K.R.I.T has continually blown subs all over the country. The question is is this the last we've heard from the My Sub series? Who knows. Until then crank up the bass and let the Sub do what it does best. BOOM!

I don't know if I've reached the end of "My Sub" as a storyline yet, but I feel like this could be the cap of it. For now, it's just fun to do them. I love the energy behind it. I love how people react to it when they play it in their car. I love tearing people's speakers up.
                                                                                           - From a 2017 NPR interview.

The K.R.I,T Bass Meter for most knockin in order goes to:
1. My Sub 
2. Subsenstein (My Sub IV)
3. My Sub Pt. 3 (Big Bang
​4. My Sub (Part 2 The Jackin')

5. Honorable mention is the bassline at the end of Keep it Boomin'.