A MAN OF LETTERS

The songs of rapper KR$NA stand out for their lyrical wordplay, as can be heard on his new mixtape

- Amit Gurbaxani

When KRSNA’s new mixtape, Yours Truly, reached No. 1 on Apple Music’s Top Albums chart within 24 hours of release last month, the hip-hop star felt validated. He made the record at a point in his life when he was unsure of his next move. “For a while, I was like, ‘What can I do that will be liked by the public and satisfy me artistically?’” says KRSNA of the collection that’s been put out in partnership with Mass Appeal, the label co-founded by one of his idols, American MC Nas.