6 Kiss (album)

6 Kiss is the second full-length solo mixtape by American rapper Lil B. At 20 years old, he released the album on December 22, 2009. It follows the release of his first solo mixtape I’m Thraxx that was released on September 24, 2009. The album cover was illustrated by Benjamin Marra which depicts Lil B shirtless with a halo on his head. Clams Casino is the primary producer of the album.

Background
Prior to releasing 6 Kiss, Lil B was a part of a hip hop group, The Pack, and released a song "Vans" that reached #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2006. During 2008 and 2009, he was busy uploading songs on Myspace where he started to develop a cult-like underground following.

Reception
The Rolling Stone ranked the second track on the album, "I'm God" at 37th on their 2023 list of "The 100 Greatest West Coast Hip-Hop Songs of All Time"

Soulja Boy, a prominent rapper, stated that one of his all-time favorite albums is 6 Kiss, therefore further popularizing the album. Additionally, rappers including Kendrick Lamar and Tyler the Creator applauded his work and revolutionary style. Despite this, older rappers ignored his mixtape as it strayed from traditional styles. Lil B has also faced criticism from fans for some materialistic and misogynistic lyrics.

Influence
The release of 6 Kiss pioneered the subgenre of rap, cloud rap, which is known for ethereal sounds combined with melodic rapping. Many critics attribute 6 Kiss to be one of the most influential mixtapes of all time and say that it allowed for the success of many rappers, such as A$AP Rocky, Yung Lean, Playboi Carti and Bladee. The instrumental of "I'm God" received a cult following on the Internet and is considered one of the most important cloud rap tracks.