Kaytranada’s recent sophomore album BUBBA shows the producer with a firm spring in his step. Tracks including Kali Uchis feature “10%” cement him as a master of his craft, proving even more so than debut 99.9%that he is able to extract all of what made a great dance record in the past, and shape it to a soundtrack fit for tomorrow. Another stand-out, “Go DJ” with TDE’s SiR on vocals, even made it as one of Obama’s favourite tracks of last year.
Seven tracks long, in a seamless 50-minute, DJ-set like blend, BUBBA detours between funky grooves and disco-esque basslines; all held under one sleek R&B umbrella. Collaborations come stellar and catchy as ever, with everyone from Pharrell and Mick Jenkins, to Tinashe and Teedra Moses laying down buttery smooth vocals for the record.
In his seemingly rapid rise to one of the world’s most in-demand producers, Kaytranada has previously laid down beats for the likes of Alicia Keys and Chance the Rapper, also recently revealing that he’s planning on working with Janet Jackson. The latter is a full circle moment of sorts for the producer, who made a name for himself back in 2013 on Soundcloud with a selection of infectious remixes, including Missy Elliott’s “Sock It To Me” and Jackson’s “If”.
Ending the turn of the century with a reason to dance, BUBBAstill has much more to give. In our SS20 issue, Kaytranada talks through his plans to release a deluxe edition, or more of a “side EP” made up of the gems left on the cutting room floor, as well as the bucket list of people he is still yet to work with — one of which was waiting to be hit up all along…
