K.T.S.E.
by Teyana Taylor
  • Record Label: G.O.O.D.
  • Release Date: Jun 23, 2018
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 146 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 122 out of 146
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 146
  3. Negative: 15 out of 146
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. musikman91307
    Jun 25, 2018
    8
    Teyana's refreshing and soulful vocals over Kanye's sampling and minimal instrumentals are what makes this album for me. I love her relatable lyrics and mature approach. Standout tracks are Rose in Harlem, No Manners, Issues/Hold on. Solid summer EP.
  2. draediamond
    Jun 25, 2018
    8
    As expected, Teyana delivers with a very soulful album which is short but surprisingly effective in bringing out her best qualities. This album feels like the formal introduction of Teyana we should have received in 2014. More risks taken here than her debut and they paid off and rewarded listeners with songs such as 3 Way, WTP, and Rose in Harlem. These risks also led to rare butAs expected, Teyana delivers with a very soulful album which is short but surprisingly effective in bringing out her best qualities. This album feels like the formal introduction of Teyana we should have received in 2014. More risks taken here than her debut and they paid off and rewarded listeners with songs such as 3 Way, WTP, and Rose in Harlem. These risks also led to rare but cringe-worthy moments such as the moaning on Hurry which could've worked if it weren't so extensive. The production is solid throughout but Teyana is the centerpiece. Absolutely no fillers (same as Daytona) as it's packed with memorable and meaningful moments. This will not be the last we hear from Mrs. Taylor and this album places her in the same league as singers such as SZA annd Kalis Uchis.… Expand
  3. Alessio99
    Jun 27, 2018
    9
    Teyana Is so powerful on this project and I feel that her RNB flair is pushing through in the wider music world for the first time past her first project 7. She has to be up there in this new generation with SZA and Rihanna, yet can match Cardi B for attitude which surely makes her one of the most unique acts out in the RNB world right now. Can't wait for the master edition of the albumTeyana Is so powerful on this project and I feel that her RNB flair is pushing through in the wider music world for the first time past her first project 7. She has to be up there in this new generation with SZA and Rihanna, yet can match Cardi B for attitude which surely makes her one of the most unique acts out in the RNB world right now. Can't wait for the master edition of the album soon as mentioned on her BigBoy interview. For me "Gonna love me", "Rose in Harlem" and "Never would have made it" are the best three tracks on the record.… Expand
  4. sisoman
    Jun 25, 2018
    10
    This album is pretty great, what a R/B album shoul be and sound, on repeat!
  5. TimW001
    Jun 25, 2018
    9
    This is a strong R&B, soulful album with smooth melodies and quality singing. It's a lot of fun. Well produced and well written. Definitely a must listen. This is a great album. I look forward to Teyana.
  6. TrentRey
    Jun 25, 2018
    9
    This is a very well-produced written r&b album by Teyana Taylor. Every track on this album is good. The album starts off with the song No Manners. This song has more of a hip-hop sound to it. I really enjoy the hook on this song. This is probably the most popular song on the album. The beat for No Manners sounds amazing.

    The only issue with that song is the length. It's just too short.    This is a very well-produced written r&b album by Teyana Taylor. Every track on this album is good. The album starts off with the song No Manners. This song has more of a hip-hop sound to it. I really enjoy the hook on this song. This is probably the most popular song on the album. The beat for No Manners sounds amazing.

    The only issue with that song is the length. It's just too short. It kind of sounds like a sample for a longer song. Actually, the length of the songs is the main issues with almost every song on the album. The songs barely reach 3 minutes. The second track on the album sounds like it is missing a few seconds. Even though, I love the production on that track. I love the vocals by Teyana. It's more on the r&b side. The next song, Issues/Hold On is a very romantic song and the first song to hit the three minutes mark. It's the first song on the album that feels like a full song.

    Hurry, this song is weird but amazing. Don't listen to this song with loudspeakers. There is an amazing sample of a girl moaning that comes on at the right moment in this song. I don't know where Kanye pulled that sample from, maybe it's from Kim's sex tape, but it fits with the song. This is such a sexual and romantic song. 3Way is a very slow song. It reminds me of some old school r&b. They did a great job with making Ty Dolla $ign vocals work on this song. Rose In Harlem. YESSS. This song is so badass. She needs to do a music video for this song. I love it.

    This is my favorite track on the album. I love the beat, the lyrics, the hook for the song. For me, the weakest moment has to be Never Would Have Made It. I think this song is good but it's the only weak moment on the album. It's weird to have this song followed by WTP.

    I really enjoyed WTP but..... one of these songs was probably made doing the album release date. The last two tracks are good but it's not great like the other tracks on the album.

    Overall KTSE is one of the years best and it's GOOD MUSIC WYOMING SESSIONS second best album: 8.5/10. I think many people will consider this album a classic one day.    … Expand
  7. Andremax
    Aug 26, 2018
    8
    2018's top 5 Why don't? Until Now: Isolation, Dirty Computer, Care for me, DAYTONA & K.T.S.E.. Kayne West is definitively a great producer and chooses the bests textures.
  8. jeffer21
    Jun 17, 2020
    8
    this album is so eclectic, melodic, has everything to be classic and timeless!! Teyana is so **** TALENTED!
  9. Alex_Nevermind
    Jun 28, 2018
    0
    IT SUCKS! Stupid "lyrics", tired, boring use of Kanye West samples. Easily disposable and forgettable... as I would like to. Definitely will NOT be revisiting this GARBAGE,-20 out of 10 stars. :-(
  10. ChrisMiller35
    Jun 28, 2018
    9
    No Manners has one of the greatest soul chopped samples i've heard. Also the new album with updated samples is being released this weekend!
  11. Flawlessasurnot
    Nov 21, 2018
    7
    For me, it was not further than an average R&B album, nothing impressive or stunning to the ears. But it doesn't mean it isn't an LP to have a good time...
  12. MrMemeister
    Jun 25, 2018
    8
    Capping off an enjoyable summer album streak from GOOD Music, Teyana Taylor's sophomore effort "K.T.S.E." shows us her true potential and features some of Kanye's best production of the year. Where her last album "VII" was mostly safe, sanitized R&B with little ambition, "K.T.S.E." has Teyana and 'Ye going for a more romantic, early 2000's-esque atmosphere. Teyana's voice, while being veryCapping off an enjoyable summer album streak from GOOD Music, Teyana Taylor's sophomore effort "K.T.S.E." shows us her true potential and features some of Kanye's best production of the year. Where her last album "VII" was mostly safe, sanitized R&B with little ambition, "K.T.S.E." has Teyana and 'Ye going for a more romantic, early 2000's-esque atmosphere. Teyana's voice, while being very pleasant, has a slight rasp to it that adds a bit more color to her performances, which are consistently entertaining. 'Ye's beats (thankfully) compliment her very well, featuring smoothly chopped-up soul ("Gonna Love Me") and vibrant piano keys and synths ("Never Would Have Made It") across most of the album. While I do have some minor gripes with it, "K.T.S.E." delivers a varied set of tuneful cuts in a satisfying 22 minutes.
    Favorites: "Gonna Love Me", "Issues / Hold On", "Rose In Harlem", "Never Would Have Made It", "WTP"
    Least Favorites: "3Way"    … Expand
  13. lordvalvo
    Jul 1, 2018
    8
    My first time listening to Teyana Taylor album. Absolutely loved it. Kanye killed it with College Dropout type samples when it came to every song but stood out on ones like Rose In Harlem and Gonna Love Me. She is a great singer and shows it clearly on this album. The only song I didn't like was WTP. It was catchy but felt like a bonus track.
  14. Edipomonteseu
    Jun 29, 2018
    8
    Provavelmente vai ser o meu álbum preferido do Kanye West esse ano, irmão distante do Ctrl da SZA
  15. SKSK
    Jul 22, 2018
    8
    Great production. 3Way is probably the only song I would not consider good enough. Maybe she should have stuck to the 7-track thing.
  16. clem666
    Aug 14, 2020
    6
    With 'K.T.S.E.' Teyana Taylor created more what looks like an EP than a real album. Broadly spreaking it is a good album. Teyana came up with interesting ideas, various tempos, touching lyrics. No doubt about it, her voice is really beautiful and it seems like she can successfully perform in multiple genres with it.
    Now let's get to the flaws of 'K.T.S.E.' and oh boy i'm so disappointed    With 'K.T.S.E.' Teyana Taylor created more what looks like an EP than a real album. Broadly spreaking it is a good album. Teyana came up with interesting ideas, various tempos, touching lyrics. No doubt about it, her voice is really beautiful and it seems like she can successfully perform in multiple genres with it.
    Now let's get to the flaws of 'K.T.S.E.' and oh boy i'm so disappointed by them because they are saddly numerous. Some tracks are really short. It often feels like the song stops a few seconds too early, just before you deeply get into it. We can clearly notice Kanye's contribution in that last point (who also struggled to produce more than 3 minutes songs in his last albums 'ye', 'Kids See Ghosts' and 'Jesus Is King', but it is another debate). Unfortunately, Kanye's input doesn't stop here because not only he is featured in this album, but we can also feel his personal touch in the selected samples. And it is surely not Teyana who decided to put this wierd orgasm sounds in 'Hurry'... I don't thank you for this, Ye. Please keep your strange fantasies for yourself. The real problem I want to highlight here is that it sometimes felt like I was listening to another Kanye album rather than one of Teyana. That's a shame because this makes it less personal.
    Then I think Teyana's voice is absolutely not at its best. We hear she can do better but we never witness it in 'K.T.S.E.'. We barely always stay in a soft singing and whispering R&B style, but we never hear what she really is capable of.
    Finally, what an idea to end this EP/album on the 'WTP' track ? All the project is calm, relaxing and soft but the very last track feels like a repetitive old-disco song ? Mykki Blanco sounds like he did not understand the artistic direction of the album and just came to mess it up. I truly don't get it. And this reinforce my idea that Teyana should have extended this album.
    In conclusion, good album but too many glitches ruining it according to me.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

78
#78 Most Discussed Album of 2018
97
#97 Most Shared Album of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. PopMatters
    Aug 1, 2018
    60
    It is absolutely true that the musical and vocal performances here are Taylor's strongest. But in terms of messaging, she still needs to get in formation.
    Read full review
  2. The A.V. Club
    Jun 29, 2018
    75
    K.T.S.E. should’ve been a breakout moment for her, but it was rushed to release to hit West’s schedule, and as such feels undercooked and unfocused. Make no mistake: There’s great “polo Kanye” stuff here, from the make-up-and-make-out ride of “Gonna Love Me” to the fierce autobiography of “Rose In Harlem.” The atomic ballroom “WTP” feels beamed in from another dimension.
    Read full review
  3. Consequence
    Jun 28, 2018
    67
    Taylor creates an unapologetic record of late-night slow jams that stem from a more mature, experienced perspective. ... The forwardness [in “3way”] is welcome, but the angle Taylor takes is questionable.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »