Big K.R.I.T.

Biography

Justin Lewis Scott (born August 26, 1986), known professionally as Big K.R.I.T. (a backronym for King Remembered in Time), is an American rapper and record producer. Born in Meridian, Mississippi, he began his musical career in 2005. He was signed to Def Jam Recordings by Sha Money XL in 2010, and first gained recognition following the release of his single "Country Shit" (remixed featuring Ludacris and Bun B) in September of that year. The following year, he guest appeared on T.I.'s promotional single "I'm Flexin'", which became Scott's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100.
Scott's first two studio albums, Live from the Underground×Live from the Underground5 June 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1LFU300MA (intro)2:132Live from the Underground3:403Cool 2 Be Southern3:224I Got This3:225Money on the Floor4:076What U Mean3:567My Sub (Pt. 2: The Jackin’)4:118Don’t Let Me Down2:579Porchlight3:4810Pull Up4:0111Yeah Dats Me3:2512Hydroplaning4:0113If I Fall2:5614Rich Dad, Poor Dad3:0615Praying Man4:2116Live from the Underground (reprise)4:55 (2012) and Cadillactica×Cadillactica10 November 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Kreation (intro)3:202Life3:313My Sub Pt. 3 (Big Bang)3:124Cadillactica4:295Soul Food3:486Pay Attention4:107King of the South3:328Mind Control4:059Standby (interlude)1:3910Do You Love Me3:4811Third Eye4:0012Mo Better Cool4:4613Angels3:4614Saturdays = Celebration4:1415Lost Generation3:5716Mt. Olympus (reprise)4:1217Lac Lac5:33 (2014), both debuted at number five on the Billboard 200. After parting ways with Def Jam, he launched the record label Multi Alumni in 2017 to release his subsequent albums: 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time×4eva Is a Mighty Long Time27 October 2017 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 22 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Big K.R.I.T.2:522Confetti3:183Big Bank3:444Subenstein (My Sub IV)4:03519993:426Ride Wit Me3:347Get Up 2 Come Down4:378Layup4:209Classic Interlude0:5310Aux Cord3:1511Get Away4:57Disc 21Justin Scott4:002Mixed Messages4:253Keep the devil Off5:104Miss Georgia Fornia6:005Everlasting3:236Higher Calling3:537Weekend Interlude0:488Price of Fame4:149Drinking Sessions5:1110The Light4:0411Bury Me in Gold4:24 (2017), K.R.I.T. Iz Here×K.R.I.T. IZ HERE11 July 2019 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 19 tracks1K.R.I.T. HERE3:212High End Country (interlude)0:463I Been Waitin2:274Make It Easy2:515Addiction2:506Energy3:157Obvious3:238I Made2:289Everytime3:5110Believe2:4611Prove It3:2212Family Matters3:1613“Blue Flame” (interlude)0:2714Blue Flame Ballet3:2915Learned From Texas3:1316Outer Space3:0117High Beams3:4318Life in the Sun3:0319M.I.S.S.I.S.S.I.P.P.I.5:08 (2019), and Digital Roses Don't Die (2022). Each met with critical praise, Cadillactica was listed by Billboard and Complex as among the best albums of that year. Furthermore, Scott has produced for other artists, with credits on releases for Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, T.I., Slim Thug, ASAP Ferg, Freddie Gibbs, E-40, and Berner, among others.

2005–2010: Beginnings

Scott previously released several mixtapes, including Hood Fame, with DJ Wally Sparks and The Last King, with DJ Breakem Off. He also made guest appearances on Pilot Talk, the third studio album and major label debut from Louisiana rapper Currensy, as well as Kush & Orange Juice, the critically acclaimed mixtape by rapper Wiz Khalifa. When he started branding himself, he went by the name of Kritikal, before shortening it to K.R.I.T.
In May 2010, Scott released his mixtape, K.R.I.T. Wuz Here×K.R.I.T. Wuz Here3 May 2010 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Return of Forever3:252Country Shit3:113Just Touched Down3:464Hometown Hero3:285Viktorious2:196See Me on Top2:397Glass House3:218Children of the World3:129They Got Us3:2710Good Enough3:5511No Wheaties3:1012Something4:5813Moon & Stars3:5314Neva Go Back3:5315Gumpshun3:35, digitally, garnering critical acclaim. That same month, former president of G-Unit Records and current Senior VP of A&R at Def Jam Records, Sha Money XL, signed him to the label as one of his first priorities in his new position.
In October 2010, Scott co-headlined The Smoker's Club Tour 2010 alongside fellow rappers Curren$y and Smoke DZA. In November 2010, Scott opened for Wiz Khalifa in Baltimore, Maryland, Sayreville, New Jersey, Winston-Salem, North Carolina and Ashland, Virginia during the Waken Baken Tour.

2011–2015: Live from the Underground and Cadillactica

In early 2011, he was featured on the cover of XXL as part of their annual Top Freshmen of the year, along with the likes of other rappers including Meek Mill, Cyhi the Prynce, Lil Twist, Yelawolf, Fred the Godson, Mac Miller, YG, Lil B, Kendrick Lamar and Diggy Simmons.
In March 2011, Scott released his highly anticipated and entirely self-produced mixtape, Return of 4Eva×Return of 4Eva28 March 2011 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks1R4 Intro1:462Rise & Shine2:443R4 Theme Song2:504Dreamin4:065Rotation3:026My Sub3:057Sookie Now4:138American Rapstar3:079Highs & Lows3:5810Shake It3:0211Made Alot3:4312Lions & Lambs4:1113Kings Blues3:0114Time Machine4:4115Get Right3:5516Amtrak3:2017Players Ballad4:1318Another Naive Individual Glorifying Greed & Encouraging Racism3:3719Free My Soul4:1920The Vent5:2021Shake Junt4:02, featuring guests David Banner, Joi, Big Sant, Chamillionaire, Raheem DeVaughn, Ludacris, and Bun B. The mixtape has been acclaimed by rap critics, with William Ketchum of HipHopDX calling it "emotive, conceptual music" and saying that Scott had given fans a "free album" – the magazine's highest praise for a mixtape. Meanwhile, Matthew Cole of Slant Magazine highlighted Return of 4Eva in his mixtape review column as "the best mixtape of the month," going on in a separate review to call it "the rap album to beat in 2011 ". Both critics praised Scott's production skills as much as his lyrics and flow, and both named Scott as a likely successor to Southern rap legends UGK, Scarface, and Outkast. On April 20, 2011, Tom Breihan reviewed the mixtape for Pitchfork, giving an 8.2 out of 10 and awarding it the site's coveted "Best New Music" tag.
On July 1, 2011, Scott announced the title of his debut studio album, Live from the Underground×Live from the Underground5 June 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1LFU300MA (intro)2:132Live from the Underground3:403Cool 2 Be Southern3:224I Got This3:225Money on the Floor4:076What U Mean3:567My Sub (Pt. 2: The Jackin’)4:118Don’t Let Me Down2:579Porchlight3:4810Pull Up4:0111Yeah Dats Me3:2512Hydroplaning4:0113If I Fall2:5614Rich Dad, Poor Dad3:0615Praying Man4:2116Live from the Underground (reprise)4:55. It was originally set to be released on September 27, 2011. From October 12, 2011, until November 24, 2011, Scott co-headlined The Smoker's Club Tour 2011 with Curren$y and Method Man. Scott released Live from the Underground June 5, 2012, to tremendous expectancy. It debuted at number one on the Hip Hop, R&B, and Rap Charts. He released his first single off the album titled, "I Got This" on May 7, 2012. He went on the "Live from the Underground" tour, which he headlined along with Slim Thug. In an interview on Bootleg Kev's radio show, on August 10, 2012, he confirmed that he and fellow Southern rapper Yelawolf were working on a collaborative album entitled Country Cousins. During the same interview, he was also asked about his favorite rappers, to which he responded, "Scarface. Man, I need these people in groups. Can I put the rest as a group? Outkast, UGK and 8Ball & MJG. That's what my iTunes consists of." Scott along with singer Ashthon Jones collaborated with Lecrae for his single "Mayday" from Gravity.

On January 10, 2013, Scott announced his next mixtape as King Remembered In Time×King Remembered in Time10 April 2013 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Purpose1:462Shine On3:493Talkin Bout Nothing2:234King Without a Crown2:505REM2:526Meditate4:527Serve This Royalty3:558Good 2getha3:419Just Last Week (Snippet)1:4210My Trunk3:4511How U Luv That3:0312Only One4:4313Banana Clip Theory3:3814Life Is a Gamble3:5515WTF4:3416Bigger Picture4:1217Multi Til the Sun Die3:57. Also naming Mike WiLL Made It as a producer on both the mixtape and his next album. He went on to indicate this mixtape and his next album would not be entirely produced by himself like his previous works, with his album not being produced by himself at all. The first single off the mixtape was released on February 27, 2013, titled, "Shine On". The song features rapper Bun B and was produced by Scott He has also put out songs produced by 9th Wonder. Scott (King Remembered In Time) would be released on April 10, 2013. The mixtape features primary production handled by Scott himself and guest appearances by Wiz Khalifa, Future, Smoke DZA and Trinidad James among others.
On June 13, 2013, in an interview with Dead End Hip Hop, Scott hinted towards the title of his upcoming second studio album, stating that the title is featured in the opening seconds of the Intro from his debut album "Live from the Underground". In August 2013, he told HipHopDX that Chad Hugo of The Neptunes, DJ Dahi and Terrace Martin will provide some of the album's soulful production. Scott also said he has refocused his energy on his rhymes and delivery, as he allows producers to craft some of the beats for him. On September 30, 2013, Scott announced that his second album would be called Cadillactica×Cadillactica10 November 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Kreation (intro)3:202Life3:313My Sub Pt. 3 (Big Bang)3:124Cadillactica4:295Soul Food3:486Pay Attention4:107King of the South3:328Mind Control4:059Standby (interlude)1:3910Do You Love Me3:4811Third Eye4:0012Mo Better Cool4:4613Angels3:4614Saturdays = Celebration4:1415Lost Generation3:5716Mt. Olympus (reprise)4:1217Lac Lac5:33. In October 2013, he told XXL that Jim Jonsin, Rico Love, DJ Toomp, and himself would also provide production on the album. On April 28, 2014, he released the first single off his second album, titled "Mt. Olympus". The second single from Cadillatica, "Pay Attention" released July 25, 2014.

2016–present: 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time and K.R.I.T. iz Here

After releasing twelve freestyles in twelve hours, Scott announced through Twitter that he and Def Jam had parted ways on July 6, 2016.
On October 27, 2017, Scott released his third studio album, 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time×4eva Is a Mighty Long Time27 October 2017 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 22 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Big K.R.I.T.2:522Confetti3:183Big Bank3:444Subenstein (My Sub IV)4:03519993:426Ride Wit Me3:347Get Up 2 Come Down4:378Layup4:209Classic Interlude0:5310Aux Cord3:1511Get Away4:57Disc 21Justin Scott4:002Mixed Messages4:253Keep the devil Off5:104Miss Georgia Fornia6:005Everlasting3:236Higher Calling3:537Weekend Interlude0:488Price of Fame4:149Drinking Sessions5:1110The Light4:0411Bury Me in Gold4:24. The album marks Scott's first independent release under his Multi Alumni label, following a departure from Def Jam. It debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200. The album was supported by four singles: "Confetti", "Keep the Devil Off", "Aux Cord" and "1999".
On July 12, 2019, Scott released his fourth studio album, K.R.I.T. Iz Here×K.R.I.T. IZ HERE11 July 2019 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 19 tracks1K.R.I.T. HERE3:212High End Country (interlude)0:463I Been Waitin2:274Make It Easy2:515Addiction2:506Energy3:157Obvious3:238I Made2:289Everytime3:5110Believe2:4611Prove It3:2212Family Matters3:1613“Blue Flame” (interlude)0:2714Blue Flame Ballet3:2915Learned From Texas3:1316Outer Space3:0117High Beams3:4318Life in the Sun3:0319M.I.S.S.I.S.S.I.P.P.I.5:08.
On February 18, 2022, Scott released his fifth studio album, Digital Roses Don't Die.

Artistry

Scott's musical training began in elementary school up through junior high school playing the cello, and having the ability to read music helped him out tremendously as an artist. While talking about how he started producing music, Scott said: "At the time, I was young and I didn't have no job. It wasn't like I could really afford to pay for beats. At the same time, there was this program that came out for PlayStation, MTV Music Generator, where you could make your own beats. So I started making my own beats right around that time because I just couldn't afford to pay for the other ones." Scott has cited UGK, Outkast, 8Ball & MJG, Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G., David Banner and CeeLo Green as his influences.
Scott is known in Birmingham, Alabama as being one of the favorite artists of the current Birmingham Mayor, Randall Woodfin. "Mt. Olympus (Reprise)" and "Energy" were featured on Mayor Woodfin's Mayoral Mixtape, which was released on Spotify in the summer of 2021.