French Montana Finds a Perfect Foil in Kodak Black on “Lockjaw”

With last year’s Southern street anthem “No Flockin,” 18-year-old Florida native Kodak Black started his rapid ascension to rap’s forefront. On “Lockjaw”—a haunted, trunk-rattling standout from French Montana’s sophomore LP Mac and Cheese 4—Black offers a perfect foil to the BadBoy/Maybach affiliate. Together, the rappers sharpen each other’s best qualities. Montana glides over the beat’s thundering bass with the relaxed bravado of a seasoned vet, while Black is less refined but equally engaging. His wearied drawl cuts through the haze and provides the track’s most solemn moment of rapping: “I’ve been trying to change my life/But a monkey on my back.” Rather than sticking to separate 16-bar verses, Montana and Black weave their flows together, propelling the track forward. Their chemistry makes this more than just an astute co-sign from Montana, though by holding his own, Black proves he’s earned one. Both rappers may be battling demons outside the studio, but “Lockjaw” serves as a reminder that when they hit their stride on wax, they’re untouchable.

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