Rappers are at their absolute best in their upcoming stages. In their up-and-coming phase, they peak in quality, because despite achieving admirable popularity to break the underground barrier to get to where they are, they still show the ambition and hunger to attain the next step: mainstream success. The result is music seething with effort, polish and excellence (see J. Cole). Unfortunately, once rappers hit the proverbial spotlight, their quality tends to digress into terrible halfassed album releases that sell purely because of their name (see 50 Cent). Sooner or later, they eventually butcher their success with so many poor records that fans lose interest altogether, that even with comeback efforts still suck (see Ja Rule). And such is the typical career of the mainstream rapper.

Big K.R.I.T. is in the up-and-coming stage, where his recognition is just starting to gain new heights. Incredibly popular in the south, K.R.I.T. has been around since the mid-2000s releasing a plethora of mixtapes and being featured on many southern artists' songs such as Freddie Gibbs, Ludacris and Chamillionaire. He was also featured on XXL magazine's Top Freshman cover in 2011 with the likes of Meek Mill, Yelawolf and Mac Miller. Big K.R.I.T. is slated to release his first studio album this year with Def Jam Records, Live From the Underground, and has just released a mixtape tease to tee up the highly anticipated album.

4evaNaDay is Big K.R.I.T.'s newest mixtape, and it's rawness in the most literal form of the word. K.R.I.T. is a jack of all trades, as the mixtape is entirely written, produced, rapped and released by himself. To boot, the tape features a whopping 17 tracks that, although are relatively short, stay true to his southern style.

“Red Eye” is about the life of a rapper as he tries to balance his music career and his love life. The track features a female voice as his girlfriend dishing out her side of the relationship issue, which gives the song dimension. K.R.I.T.'s lyrics are incredible and are complemented by a slow rap beat highlighted by a pretty depressing piano that fits the bill of the song.

“Yesterday” should have been right after “Red Eye” in the track listing, because the song is an excellent follow-up. It is about dealing with the final departure of his woman and the reflections that he goes through. The beat is simplistic, as it needs to be, but the song is too short.

“1986” is titled after his birth year, and is definitely the liveliest song on the mixtape. K.R.I.T. raps about when he was born and his journey to becoming an MC. The beat features a much busier and aggressive bass, but still keeps the tendency of being simplistic.

Honorable mentions: “4evaNaDay,” “Sky Club” and “Handwriting.”

As successful as he is becoming, Big K.R.I.T. hasn't abandoned his underground roots. The beats are low-key, the samples are carefully chosen and the lyrics are raw. And, oh yeah, there are no featured artists. K.R.I.T. has done this completely from the ground up, and has his fingerprints all over it. The only thing 4evaNaDay is lacking is a little bit more pump. Many of the songs, despite being great, are too serious and somewhat depressing. Regardless, Big K.R.I.T. has poured his soul into his work and leaves a salivating impression with his fans for his studio release.

Rating: 3 out of 5