KIARI, Offset’s third solo album, has just dropped, and it is an empathetic and emotional contrast to his earlier works. Offset embodies the adversities he has faced to this point, weaving his passion and pain into lyrics and melody. The project feels like both a personal diary and a proclamation of a new identity. This complexity gives the album layers, adding a depth that makes it distinctly powerful. Offset is intentional about the emotional focus he places on this project. “I named my album KIARI because it’s like me looking at myself in the mirror—my real life, how far I’ve come and what I’ve done, the good and the bad, the mistakes.” Throughout the 18 tracks, he intricately balances ambition with emotional vulnerability, each song contributing a unique element to the masterpiece that is KIARI.
The album is a refined blend of trap beats and textured backdrops. Offset doesn’t stray far from his musical instincts, delivering an album that is both emotionally layered and unmistakably his. Unlike his previous solo projects—Father of 4 (2019) and Set It Off (2023), which centered more on fatherhood, fame, and success—KIARI introduces novel themes.
One of the most emphatic emphasis on his personal struggles is encapsulated with “Move On,” where Offset cogitates over his split from Cardi B to which he handles with notable maturity. The refrain “Tryna move on in peace” runs through the chorus, emphasizing his acceptance of the situation and his resolve for detachment. Yet he also hints that this peace may not be mutual. Lines like “Happy for you, why you ain’t happy for me” and “Not playing yo’ games today, we look like some fool” suggest conflict and lingering pain.
“Never Let Go” is another song on the tracks that carries deep introspection. It is a powerful tribute to Takeoff where Offset candidly mourns his loss and addresses this grief had impacted his life. “I lost my brother, but I gained an angel,” he declares. The song is both elegy and affirmation, showing his willingness to carry grief while moving forward. He underscores the physical toll of loss, rapping, “Ain’t been the same ‘cause this pain fuck up everything. I mean everything, I even lost the wedding ring.” Featuring John Legend, the track uses Legend’s soulful vocals as a vessel for raw emotion, heightening the song’s warmth and poignancy.
Although the album embodies Offset’s emotional journey, the trap genre’s trademark upbeat tempo sometimes undercuts the emotional storytelling, creating a tension between bouncy rhythms and affecting themes. This distraction risks the project being dismissed as just another Offset release, even as it strives to push beyond.
Still, KIARI is undeniably Offset’s most complex work to date. The ingenious blending of contemporary trap with authentic self-exploration reflects both artistic growth and emotional maturity. With this album, Offset fully embraces the solo persona, stepping out of the shadow of Migos. More than just a collection of songs, KIARI is an album birthed from adversity, a raw and layered body of work that cements Offset as an artist willing to turn personal struggle into powerful art.
