“Intimidated” is the Montreal-based artist’s latest release since his 2019 award-winning album, “BUBBA”
By: Kinza Zafar
The album cover for KAYTRANADA’s EP Intimidated
KAYTRANADA’s newest EP masterfully showcases his dynamic range and capabilities as a producer and DJ. Despite consisting of only three tracks, each one possesses its own distinct sound.
The first track, “Intimidated,” is melodic and upbeat, a perfect marriage between the soft, floating voice of American R&B singer, H.E.R., and KAYTRANADA’s soulful piano chord progressions. The fellow Grammy award winner and multi-talented creator, Thundercat, continues the funky, lo-fi vibe on “Be Careful.” The groovy track with a punchy bassline and crisp hi-hats provides a vibrant atmosphere for Thundercat’s signature falsetto vocals to shine and is even complete with vinyl crackling.
A Haitian duo unites on the last track featuring Mach-Hommy, making for a powerful cap on the project. Even while switching it up on a dance beat, Mach-Hommy sounds just as comfortable as he was on his own album Pray for Haiti, one of hip hop’s best releases of the year.
The song encompasses similar concepts of Haitian identity and liberation — something that has been at the forefront of his entire career as one of hip hop’s greatest underground rappers the past decade. This is especially prevalent in his hook where he references someone telling him to “take the ‘R’ out” of “pray for haiti,” which spells the single’s title, “$payforhaiti.”
By the end of the EP’s nine minute runtime, it’s clear that the genre-bending KAYTRANADA has delivered another fresh project for folks to dance their way out of the pandemic.
His diversity as a producer is on full display on Intimidated, as his chemistry with his friends makes for an entertaining listen, no matter how short.
After the release, the Haitian-Canadian artist took his gratitude to Twitter. “Really blessed to work w/ amazing vocalists. Most of my beats can’t simply be instrumentals so to be where I am now, would’ve been nothing without them or maybe different,” he tweeted to his almost half a million followers.
H.E.R. also tweeted at him about the project, writing “thank you for allowing me to be a part.” Thundercat also replied to a shoutout, “love you Kaytra!”
KAYTRANADA’s 2019 album, BUBBA, earned him a Grammy award for the Best Dance/Electronic Album category, while his single on the same record, “10%” with Kali Uchis, won Best Dance Recording at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. Similarly, the album also received a Juno award for Dance Recording of the Year. As hinted on Twitter, KAYTRANADA is rumoured to have a mixtape awaiting release; Intimidated is just a teaser of what KAYTRANADA has in store.
Torontonians will have the chance to experience the 29-year-old perform two nights in a row on Dec. 29 and 30 at History.