Rappers “Ken Carson” (Kenyatta Lee Bettis Frazier Junior) and “Destroy Lonely” (Bobby Wardell Sandimanie III) are strongly emerging in the music industry. They are a part of a music label/group that goes by the name Opium. The Opium record label was founded by Playboi Carti (Jordan Terrell Carter) in 2019, based in Atlanta, Georgia, also home to artists Homixide Gang, Ken, and Lone. This group gained an extreme fan base and popularity due to the distinctive “rage” style characterized by 808 drums and experimental flows/styles.
Due to these artists gaining such popularity, it is human nature for them to be compared. Let’s start with Ken, who is 25 and began releasing music on the Soundcloud app in 2017. He started gaining an underground fanbase after releasing the classic EPs Boy Barbie and Teen X. His career really took off after signing with Playboi Carti’s record label in 2019, eventually going mainstream after releasing hits like Yale and his debut album Project X.
Lonely’s rise to fame was somewhat similar to Ken’s when it came to hitting mainstream after singing with Opium Records. Ken and Lonely met early on in their careers, even collaborating on Soundcloud. Lone is known for blowing up on his earlier hits, ‘No Stylist’ and ‘If Looks Could Kill’, although Lone has always been involved in the music scene with his father being a rapper, I-20, part of Ludacris’ Record label “Disturbing Tha Peace”. I believe this has played a hand in Lone becoming an artist.
Ken Carson’s music is seen as more of a traditional “rage rap,” which isn’t too new to the rap industry and can feel less experimental. Many fans feel that Lone has created a unique image with his visuals, fashion, and sound, which causes him to stand out more. He also tends to experiment more with layered production, pushing a darker, more cinematic vibe. Ken’s music is seen to be more energetic, with a very repetitive cadence. But I will say that Lone didn’t release ‘A Great Chaos’, one of the most iconic albums for later Gen Z. But it really all comes down to what the listener prefers. Ken and Lone have put out tons of music. Take a listen and decide who you prefer.
