The Singles Jukebox

Earl Stevens makes his first Jukebox appearance on the left side of the “ft.” tag since 2010…

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[4.57]

Megan Harrington: Pettiness, like sarcasm, is a quality made by combining funny with mean. E-40 understands this, slinging barbs and then punctuating them with tiny, tossed off sound effects. It’s giggle worthy and it’s supposed to be. Kamaiyah takes “Petty” perhaps more seriously than the occasion requires, but not distractingly so. 
[6]

Will Adams: The thing about the word “petty” is that it’s come to signify a bit of self-awareness and sense of humor; people can acknowledge that they’re being petty but not care and go for it anyway. E-40 and Kamaiyah seem to have this in mind, though they each focus on different aspects: E-40 plays up the humor while Kamaiyah emphasizes the commitment to braggadocio and bite. The ambling production of “Petty” won’t make it an impactful listen without proper context, but it would certainly do well when you’re in the mood to embrace the petty.
[6]

Thomas Inskeep: Actually, it’s the song that’s kind of petty.
[3]

Katherine St Asaph: “Petty” is right: an inconsequential shrug where one could be more vicious.
[5]

Jonathan Bradley: The immediate obstacle to enjoying this is that, as trifling complaints go, “these bitches is petty” is one of the more small-minded. E-40 and Kamaiyah clearly have no interest in going high when their antagonists go low. On the plus side, E-40 has a chatty flow that is never messy — he gives instead the impression that he’s capable of squeezing words into extra dimensions not available to your average rapper — and he’s made risible sentiments engaging through technical inventiveness many times in his career. (One example.) He says nothing memorable here, though, and nor does Kamaiyah, a nonetheless engaging, consonant-slurring newcomer. It’s also good to hear a JHawk production again, but his characteristic minimalism lacks the kineticism he once provided to Pink Dollaz or The Rej3ctz. “Petty” is trivial.
[4]

Ryo Miyauchi: JHawk’s three-note jingle should be the kind of roomy production for E-40 and Kamaiyah to thrive in. But from the start, it doesn’t sound too fun to engage with. That’s no good for the rappers who are better at translating joy than bitterness. Kamaiyah fares better with her ability to make boasting an impressive sport no matter the sound. Even if they tried to liven it up, the dim melody would mute their effort. Commanding voices like theirs shouldn’t be so tied down like this.
[5]

Alfred Soto: Four years after the six-course meal called The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil, the West Coast rapper’s track relies on a sample that goes “Most of these bitches is petty” as its hook, which should indicate the extent of its imagination. His other stuff has a louche charm; “Petty” is louche.
[3]