A last-minute getaway to a beach bar rocking a fresh pair of sunnies is the essence of KAYTRAMINÉ, as “summer officially begins” at the start of “Who He Iz.”
Much like Aminé expressed on Twitter earlier this week, he and Kaytranada’s highly-anticipated LP has been a long time in the making — nine years to be exact. A pairing that many have shipped for years — with their groovy, uptempo sounds meshing perfectly as the duo KAYTRAMINÉ — K&A are the best f**king duo with “the “best f***ing beats” and “the best f***ing verses.”
Sharing singles in “4EVA” with Pharrell and “Rebuke” (May 15), anticipation for the album reached fever pitch in the days leading up to its release. Feeling like a necessary summer album clad with pool-side anthems and bar-heavy bangers alike, the 11-track project arrived on Friday (May 19) and features a star-studded guest list in Pharrell Williams, Freddie Gibbs, Big Sean, Snoop Dogg and Amaarae.
Among highlights like “sossaup,” “K&A,” “Master P” (touting an immaculate verse from Big Sean) and others, Pharrell’s contributions on its lead single, “4EVA,” set the tone for KAYTRAMINÉ’s undeniable energy. The drum-heavy instrumental backs a mellow chorus from Pharrell, while Aminé comes in to ride Kay’s wave. “I’m so West it should be my last name,” he raps, interpolating Haitian Creole phrases in his opening lines among other rave-worthy bars like “She told me get a grip and she hit me with a grip.”
“Rebuke” is more subtle, yet equally as vibrant, vivacious and carefree. Sounding like a woozy, boozy beach day that lingers into night, Aminé captivates with a half-sung hook that melts within the sonic sunset KAYTRANADA paints in the background. “Giving up I refuse, that’s the type of feeling I rebuke,” the Portland star loosely raps, bolstered by shimmering vocals, sliding piano progressions and a simple yet head-bobbing bounce.
Much of the album emulates this aura, as “letstalkaboutit” sees Aminé and Freddie Gibbs “Harlem Shake through the pressure.” Kay’s production is pristine and on-point, wasting no time putting a bounce in listeners’ steps — leaning into his hip-hop roots more so than ever. Other cuts like the synth-heavy “Eye” with Snoop Dogg and magically groovy “Ugh Ugh” illustrates how far the two have come. “Kay sent me free beats in 2015, now it’s 2023 and we got racks in our jeans,” Aminé tears off, sounding like a hitmaker in final form with the precision to match. The most infectious of the album, “sossaup,” is danceable on any circumstance, willingly inciting moves that mimic Kay and A’s in the visual’s teaser.
“Now, who the f*** been more consistent than Kay and me?
These rappers droppin’ one good album then you don’t hear a peep”
KAYTRAMINÉ – “ugh ugh”
Amid taking time to divulge he and Kay’s journey up until this point, Aminé also revealed a few underlying motives of the album. “Who the f*** knows where I’d be right now without that little push from Kay that early in my career,” he wrote referencing a DM he sent the prolific producer in 2014. “The love you show people sometimes can really affect them in ways you couldn’t imagine… ‘Kaytraminé’ ain’t no industry play.”
Aminé made his last full-length appearance in 2021 with his project TWOPOINTFIVE. However, 2020’s LIMBO still stands as Aminé’s most polished work to date, which features JID, Charlie Wilson, Young Thug, Saba, Valee, Summer Walker and more. KAYTRANADA recently lent his production prowess to fellow groove icon Anderson .Paak for their single “Twin Flame” as well as IDK’s Simple EP in 2022.
Settle into summer with a sunny soundtrack from KAYTRAMINÉ.
Check out ‘KAYTRAMINÉ’ below!
