While rapper/producer Kota the Friend was born and raised in New York, there's a distinctively West Coast feel to his second album, Everything. Not so much in that it calls to mind the influence of West Coast hip-hop, but more so that Kota's jazzy, mellow instrumentals and softly surreal lyrical flows evoke images of relaxed sunny days and open, uncrowded landscapes. Coming from a highly musical background that started with playing trumpet and other instruments and developed into making beats, Kota's beats are involved compositions, lacing trap drum patterns with loops of gentle guitar and electric piano or samples from dusty jazz records. Kota goes it alone for much of the album, with a delivery that sometimes recalls the early days of Chance the Rapper's drifty wordplay. The album stays consistently strong, with some of its best tracks coming at the start of the record. The densely musical production and quick-shifting delivery of "Mi Casa" sounds like a less adventurous Kendrick Lamar. Kota is joined by Joey Bada$$ and Bas on the bouncing "BQE," and various other rappers show up over the course of the album. Everything is characterized by a summery, nostalgic energy and even in his toughest moments, Kota the Friend exudes positivity.