Latest news with #KayCyy
Hypebeast
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
KayCyy Comes Into His Own on 'BEFORE I WAS BORN'
KayCyyhas been one of contemporary hip-hop's favorite featured artists. The Kenya-born, Saint Paul, Minnesota-bred rapper has racked up a Rolodex of industry-wide A-list co-signs and credits. Most notably, just when he started gaining momentum as a rising artist, KayCyy contributed production and writing toYe'sDondain 2021, having worked closely with the rapper since connecting through mutual friend and record executive Abou 'Bu' Thiam, who later went on to become both artists' managers. Now 27 years old, KayCyy earned a coveted Grammy nom for for Album of the Year for his work onDonda,nabbing the Grammy win for Best Melodic Rap Performance for his backing vocals on 'Hurricane.' After proving his production prowess onDonda,KayCyy continued his momentum with some more standout singles (including 'Stay Up' withLancey Foux), followed by his first-ever collaborative EP withGesaffelstein,TW20 50, which spanned a trio of tracks and dropped on streaming services in March of 2022. The project established the pair's unexpectedly effortless-sounding ease of creative collaboration, KayCyy's slick vocals sliding over the distinctly smooth Gesaffelstein melodies, laying the groundwork for the duo's second collaborative EP,TW2052,in May of 2023, which came after another impressive KayCyy mixtape,Get Used To It, which dropped in June of 2022 and features Foux and 070 Shake among others. It's not just the heavyweights, theLil Keeds andJoey Bada$$es, that KayCyy chooses to tap in with; onGet Used To It,the malleable musician chooses to champion other emerging talent like Annahstasia and Nigerian-London singer Steven Bamidele. To close out 2023, the rapper hopped onTravis Scott'sUTOPIA,offering up vocals to 'THANK GOD,' on which KayCyy wasn't credited, which prompted him to drop 'My Jeans' with original cover art that read 'I'M NOT NO BACKGROUND SINGER.' Shortly thereafter, he assistedWestside GunnwithAnd Then You Pray For Metitle track, 'AND THEN YOU PRAY FOR ME,' closing out Gunn's captivating album on a high note. He's spent the last year or so continuing to dial in his sound, showing out on more small artist features and just over two months before droppingBEFORE I WAS BORN,he dropped another collaborative mixtape with Irish musician sign crushes motorist, curating a duo they called HIIBRYD. DubbedSADDEST TRUTH,the tape leans into a more indie-inspired rap sound and arrives as another prime example of KayCyy's collaborative capabilities and the versatility of his shape-shifting sonic persona. That's all to say that each one of these collaborative mixtapes, singles, and production credits has paved the way forBEFORE I WAS BORN. Handled almost completely solo, the 13-track project is an ode to KayCyy's independence – something only made possible by the journey he took to get here. Still toeing the line between being a behind-the-scenes force from the shadows and stepping fully into the mainstream, this is likely the most lowkey KayCyy will ever be. Swerving from nostalgic R&B-influenced cuts to trap-turned ballads,BEFORE I WAS BORNputs KayCyy's artistic adaptability center stage. StreamBEFORE I WAS BORN– out everywhere now.
Hypebeast
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Best New Tracks: Gunna, Lil Tecca, Kevin Abstract, and More
As the week in music comes to a close, Hypebeast has rounded up the best projects for the latest installment of Best New Tracks. Albums land fromLil Tecca,KayCyy,Feid,FearDorian,Slick Rickandskaiwater, withKevin Abstractalso dropping a Wayneextended hisTha Carter VIwithThe Carter VI (Bonus)edition, withREASONsimilarly extending hisI Love You Againalbum. Japanese Breakfast,Gunna,Larry JunexCardo Got Wings,Pi'erre BourneandBktherulaall released singles. After unveiling standout singles 'Dark Thoughts' and 'OWA OWA,' Lil Tecca has unveiled the follow-up project toPLAN A, his fifth studio album,DOPAMINE. The sole feature on the album comes from none other thanKen Carson. Spotify|Apple Music KayCyy is back with his first project since 2023' I Was Bornfeatures singles 'ALL IN VEIN (DRUMS),' 'Falling On Purpose' with Brinx Carter and 'Wine & Dine,' which land as the last three songs on the 13-track tracklist, respectively. Spotify|Apple Music It's a good week when we get a surprise Ferxxo project. Feid surprised fans withFERXXO VOL 5: Sagradoon Monday, June 9, a 17-cut album that serves as a primarily solo offering, complete with fan-favorite single 'DALLAX' featuringTy Dolla $ign. Spotify|Apple Music As Kevin Abstract continues to gear up for the release ofBLUSH, theBROCKHAMPTONmusician took to Discord to drop off a new EP of demo tapes that will not appear on the imminent project. Discord With the aftermath ofTha Carter VIstill setting in, Lil Wayne is continuing to expand the album's reach with its 'Bonus' edition. The originally 19-track LP now includes two more tracks tacked onto the end of the lineup: 'Banned From NO' withNicki Minajand 'Momma Don't Worry' withFutureandLil Baby. Spotify|Apple Music Lifted fromA24'sMaterialists, Japanese Breakfast has revealed 'My Baby (Got Nothing At All) viaA24 Music. Spotify|Apple Music Pi'erre Bourne has delivered on the second single from his album rollout run; following up 'Blocs' is the long-awaited leak, 'Pop.' Spotify|Apple Music Filled with a fresh lineup of new music, FearDorian has served up the 12-track albumOut The Past With A Window. Spotify|Apple Music For Don Toliver's birthday, the rapper took to YouTube to share a minute-long snippet of new music dubbed 'FWU (GEMINI SEASON).' YouTube WithLUCYjust a week away, Bktherula has been on a consistent run with her single releases. The latest in the release schedule is dubbed 'DUMB SHIT.' Spotify|Apple Music After taking to Instagram to reveal the news of new music coming on Friday the 13th just yesterday, Gunna has dropped a new single, 'Won't Stop.' Spotify|Apple Music Closing out skaiwater's mixtape trilogy comespinkPrint six-song EP includes titles 'skin,' 'i think we deep' and 'the one.' Spotify|Apple Music I Love You Againfirst landed back in February, but REASON reminded us he wasn't done with the album's enthralling universe quite yet. The rapper expanded the album with what's billed as theI Love You Again (Extended Deluxe.) Spotify|Apple Music Slick Rick has shared his first album in over 25 an audiovisual album (having recently premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival) and features executive production fromIdris Elbaand features fromNas,GiggsandEstelle. Spotify|Apple Music Larry June and Cardo Got Wings stay locked in, lifting the curtain on another new single. Arriving shortly after late May's 'Black Man' comes 'On The Unda.' Spotify|Apple Music
