The Rundown: Kid Ink, My Own Lane

A track-by-track review of the L.A. rapper's debut LP.

The Rundown: Kid Ink, My Own Lane - Kid Ink serves as yet another example in today’s age of Internet-born rappers. After linking with DJ ill Will and Tha Alumni Music Group a few years back, the Los Angeles native dropped a number of successful mixtapes that allowed him to tour and grow an admiring fanbase. Since inking with RCA in early 2013, the rapper has been prepping his debut album, My Own Lane, full of his melodic flows and party-ready rhymes. Read on for a track-by-track review. — Adam Fleischer(Photo: RCA)

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The Rundown: Kid Ink, My Own Lane - Kid Ink serves as yet another example in today’s age of Internet-born rappers. After linking with DJ ill Will and Tha Alumni Music Group a few years back, the Los Angeles native dropped a number of successful mixtapes that allowed him to tour and grow an admiring fanbase. Since inking with RCA in early 2013, the rapper has been prepping his debut album, My Own Lane, full of his melodic flows and party-ready rhymes. Read on for a track-by-track review. — Adam Fleischer(Photo: RCA)

"Hello World" - Serving as an apt opener, “Hello World” finds Ink warming himself to listeners over airy instrumentation. For those unfamiliar with the RCA signee, it proves an ideal introduction to his approach, as he sandwiches confident verses in between catchy, melodic hooks.(Photo: Daniel Knighton/WireImage)

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"Hello World" - Serving as an apt opener, “Hello World” finds Ink warming himself to listeners over airy instrumentation. For those unfamiliar with the RCA signee, it proves an ideal introduction to his approach, as he sandwiches confident verses in between catchy, melodic hooks.(Photo: Daniel Knighton/WireImage)

"The Movement" - Proudly representing Tha Alumni Music Group, as well as his own Batgang crew, Ink welcomes everyone to "The Movement" with this fittingly titled amped up joint.(Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

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"The Movement" - Proudly representing Tha Alumni Music Group, as well as his own Batgang crew, Ink welcomes everyone to "The Movement" with this fittingly titled amped up joint.(Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

"Show Me" Featuring Chris Brown - The ubiquitous lead single for the album, “Show Me” brings along a Chris Brown hook and DJ Mustard's club-made production (sampling Robin S.'s 1993 hit “Show Me Love”) to create Ink's biggest hit to date, recently peaking at No. 7 on the Rap Songs Billboard chart. (Photos from left: David Livingston/Getty Images, Joe Kohen/WireImage for Swatch)

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"Show Me" Featuring Chris Brown - The ubiquitous lead single for the album, “Show Me” brings along a Chris Brown hook and DJ Mustard's club-made production (sampling Robin S.'s 1993 hit “Show Me Love”) to create Ink's biggest hit to date, recently peaking at No. 7 on the Rap Songs Billboard chart. (Photos from left: David Livingston/Getty Images, Joe Kohen/WireImage for Swatch)

Kid Ink, @Kid_Ink - Tweet: "Who said we shot the video without anyone? Stop jumping to conclusions. Is it out yet?"After Kid Ink posted a photo to his Instagram and Twitter accounts showcasing him and Tyga on the set of his "Main Chick" video, spectators assumed that he was shooting the visuals for his new single without Chris Brown. But the Cali newcomer tells froggy fans to settle on their lily pads because they don't know what's he has floating in the waters. #BreezyJustMightPopOut(Photo: Paul Warner/Getty Images)

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“Iz U Down” Featuring Tyga - Ink links up with frequent collaborator and fellow Los Angeles-bred tattooed rhymer Tyga for this collaboration. The two dedicate the joint to two special ladies, as they each hope the night ends (separately) in a memorable threesome: “I can tell by the way you’ve been lookin’ at your girlfriend,” Ink kicks on the chorus.(Photo: Paul Warner/Getty Images)

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It Was Written\r - Kid Ink left his mark on the New York crowd during his performance at the 2012 XXL Freshman show.\r\r\r\r\r\r\r(Photo: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)

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 “We Just Came to Party” Featuring August Aslina - Up and coming R&B favorite August Aslina lends his smooth vocals to “We Just Came to Party,” a typically fun Kid Ink ladies jam. (Photo: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)

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"Main Chick" Featuring Chris Brown - Why mess with a good thing? Ink again enlists the vocals of Chris Brown and production of DJ Mustard for a joint for the ladies. "We just seizing the moment/Up all night, throw a deuce to the morning," the 27-year-old spits.  (Photos from left: Rick Diamond/WireImage, Jason Merritt/BET/Getty Images for BET)

Photo By Photos from left: Rick Diamond/WireImage

Kid Ink (Tha Alumni Music Group to RCA Records) - After building his base through online buzz and touring, Kid Ink released his indie debut, Up & Away, in 2012 through Tha Alumni Music Group. Just a few months later, he announced that he had signed with RCA, where he’d be putting out his major label debut. Following an EP in 2013, he did just that last week when he dropped My Own Lane. Though the official numbers aren’t in yet, estimates say that it should debut at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. (Photo: John Ricard/Getty Images for BET)

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"No Option" Featuring King Los - Kid Ink isn't particularly known for dizzying rhymes, but rather his overall song-making abilities — yet alongside King Los, he steps up his game, rhyming with more intent and speed than fans are accustomed to hearing. (Photo: John Ricard/Getty Images for BET)

“Murda” Featuring Pusha T - With a looped vocal sample throughout, “Murda” takes things to the streets in large part thanks to featured guest Pusha T, who brings his patented gritty and witty approach.(Photos from left: Courtesy of RCA Records, Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)

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“Murda” Featuring Pusha T - With a looped vocal sample throughout, “Murda” takes things to the streets in large part thanks to featured guest Pusha T, who brings his patented gritty and witty approach.(Photos from left: Courtesy of RCA Records, Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)

"Rollin" - One of the more upbeat songs on the album, "Rollin'" is another partnership between Ink and DJ Mustard and feels ready-made to be blaring from the speakers of a convertible on a sunny afternoon.(Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images)

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"Rollin" - One of the more upbeat songs on the album, "Rollin'" is another partnership between Ink and DJ Mustard and feels ready-made to be blaring from the speakers of a convertible on a sunny afternoon.(Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images)

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"Tattoo My Name" - Want to show Kid Ink you really love him? Get a tattoo of his name. "It makes everything official/It don't matter whether it's the first, last or initial," Tha Alumni Music Group MC assures on this spacey jam. (Photo: London Entertainment / Splash News)

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"Tattoo My Name" - Want to show Kid Ink you really love him? Get a tattoo of his name. "It makes everything official/It don't matter whether it's the first, last or initial," Tha Alumni Music Group MC assures on this spacey jam. (Photo: London Entertainment / Splash News)

"No Miracles," Featuring Elle Varner and MGK - On an album that mostly has celebratory tones, "No Miracles" stands out. Elle Varner's uplifting hook perfectly sets the attitude for the track, which finds both Ink and MGK looking back on tougher times and recalling the dedication that their unrelenting grinds demanded.(Photos from left: London Entertainment / Splash News, Jason Merritt/BET/Getty Images for BET, John Ricard / BET)

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"No Miracles," Featuring Elle Varner and MGK - On an album that mostly has celebratory tones, "No Miracles" stands out. Elle Varner's uplifting hook perfectly sets the attitude for the track, which finds both Ink and MGK looking back on tougher times and recalling the dedication that their unrelenting grinds demanded.(Photos from left: London Entertainment / Splash News, Jason Merritt/BET/Getty Images for BET, John Ricard / BET)

"I Don’t Care" Featuring Maejor Ali - Keeping with some of the themes presented on the previous song, "I Don’t Care" finds Ink most fully fleshing out the title of the album, My Own Lane. "I don't really care what everybody gotta say," he blatantly states on the hook, before running through what it took to learn to not listen to his detractors over the years. (Photos from left: Kid Ink via Instagram, Maejor Ali via Instagram)

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"I Don’t Care" Featuring Maejor Ali - Keeping with some of the themes presented on the previous song, "I Don’t Care" finds Ink most fully fleshing out the title of the album, My Own Lane. "I don't really care what everybody gotta say," he blatantly states on the hook, before running through what it took to learn to not listen to his detractors over the years. (Photos from left: Kid Ink via Instagram, Maejor Ali via Instagram)

"More Than a King" - Though there's a beat-change halfway through "More Than a King," Kid Ink's statement remains the same throughout: "I feel like, more than a man/More than a king/More like God," he boasts to open the song. Here, he's going after greatness and he hopes the release of his debut major label album is the first step.(Photo: Courtesy of RCA Records)

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"More Than a King" - Though there's a beat-change halfway through "More Than a King," Kid Ink's statement remains the same throughout: "I feel like, more than a man/More than a king/More like God," he boasts to open the song. Here, he's going after greatness and he hopes the release of his debut major label album is the first step.(Photo: Courtesy of RCA Records)

"My System" - An ode to the partying that comes with the good life, this song celebrates some of Ink’s favorite vices that he lets flow through his system. (Photo: Chelsea Lauren/FilmMagic)

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"My System" - An ode to the partying that comes with the good life, this song celebrates some of Ink’s favorite vices that he lets flow through his system. (Photo: Chelsea Lauren/FilmMagic)

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"Star Player" - Over a dance/pop-influenced sonic backdrop, Ink sings the praises of that special lady in his life — his "Star Player." "If bad girls had a team, you'd be the MVP of the league," he promises.(Photo: David Wolff - Patrick/Redferns via Getty Images)

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"Star Player" - Over a dance/pop-influenced sonic backdrop, Ink sings the praises of that special lady in his life — his "Star Player." "If bad girls had a team, you'd be the MVP of the league," he promises.(Photo: David Wolff - Patrick/Redferns via Getty Images)

"Bad A--" Featuring Meek Mill and Wale - Kid Ink invites Meek Mill and Wale to swoon over some beautiful women on the funky "Bad A--," which he first released early last year, shortly after announcing his signing to RCA. (Photos from left: Courtesy of RCA Records, Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Clear Channel, Ouzounova/Splash News)

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"Bad A--" Featuring Meek Mill and Wale - Kid Ink invites Meek Mill and Wale to swoon over some beautiful women on the funky "Bad A--," which he first released early last year, shortly after announcing his signing to RCA. (Photos from left: Courtesy of RCA Records, Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Clear Channel, Ouzounova/Splash News)

“Bossin Up” Featuring French Montana and A$AP Ferg - This infectious joint is a solid conclusion to MyOwn Lane. It first appeared on Ink's Almost Home EP in May of last year, and on it, the Los Angeles native enlists the verbal stylings of two of New York's finest for a coast-to-coast banger.(Photos from left: Courtesy of RCA Records, Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)

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“Bossin Up” Featuring French Montana and A$AP Ferg - This infectious joint is a solid conclusion to MyOwn Lane. It first appeared on Ink's Almost Home EP in May of last year, and on it, the Los Angeles native enlists the verbal stylings of two of New York's finest for a coast-to-coast banger.(Photos from left: Courtesy of RCA Records, Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)