Much anticipated, heavily pressed, and expectedly lyrical, Kota the Friend’s B.Q.E. is the kind of collaborative anthem that could have been nothing else from the Brooklyn lyricist and his friends: Joey Badas$ & Bas. Taking a step away from the acoustically driven, signature cadenced formula that has directed all of his single releases since 2019 debut album, FOTO, Kota steps up the pace and the intensity in a way his fans always knew he could, but in a way he rarely does. 

 

With the influencing verses of fellow New York wordsmith, Joey Badas$ and Dreamville second-in-command, Bas, the up-tempo, anthemic direction was expected from the moment Kota teased the single a month back. And, now that it’s here, B.Q.E. begs the questions of what’s next from an artist that supposedly has a subsequent album en route.