Victoria Monét wowed with her 2020 EP Jaguar and now her long-awaited debut album, Jaguar II, is finally approaching. She revealed the cover art and release date (August 25) last month and announced last week that she’s going on tour. Now we know a bit more about he album: specifically, the tracklist.
Monét shared that today (July 17) and the 11-track album includes features from Lucky Daye; Buju Banton; Hazel Monét; and Earth, Wind & Fire; as well as a song produced by Kaytranada. Fans were excited about the collaborators, as Kaytranada and Earth, Wind & Fire were trending topics on Twitter after Monét’s reveal.
While unveiling the tracklist on social media, Monét wrote, “I present to you: The JAGUAR II TRACKLIST!!!! I’m so happy to finally share this with you!! Look at these FEATURES [crying emojis] screaming..what is life?! from the titles alone, which songs do you think will be your favorites? I’m so curious.”
I present to you: The JAGUAR II TRACKLIST!!!!
I’m so happy to finally share this with you!! Look at these FEATURES screaming..what is life?! from the titles alone, which songs do you think will be your favorites? I’m so curious pic.twitter.com/u21Va3YQae
1. “Smoke” Feat. Lucky Daye
2. “Smoke” (Reprise)
3. “Party Girls” Feat. Buju Banton
4. “Alright” (Prod. by Kaytranada)
5. “Cadillac (A Pimp’s Anthem)”
6. “How Does It Make You Feel”
7. “On My Mama”
8. “I’m The One”
9. “Stop (Askin’ Me 4Shyt)”
10. “Hollywood” Feat. Earth, Wind & Fire and Hazel Monét
11. “Good Bye”
Jaguar II is out 8/25 via Lovett Music/RCA Records. Find more information here.
A few months after Kaytranada and Aminé joined forces to release their first self-titled album together as Kaytraminé, the duo now have some other fun plans in store for their fans. They will be hitting the road across North America this fall to play a handful of shows in major cities and showcase their latest tunes.
While Kaytranada brought Aminé out during his weekend one Coachella set, the two haven’t played together since. And, considering the record boasts a ton of features, including Big Sean, Freddie Gibbs, Pharrell Williams, and Snoop Dogg, we can only hope that they might have some special surprise guests in store for the tour.
“It has some of the best Kay beats that he’s ever made, and some of the best singing and rapping I’ve ever done,” Aminé told W Magazine upon the release. “It really leveled up my artistic capabilities.”
“‘4EVA’ is one of the dance songs on the album, and people expect it’s going to go in that direction, but it’s completely the opposite,” Kaytranada added. “They are really going to experience my versatility as a producer.”
Tickets for the tour are available starting this Friday at 10 a.m. local time for each city. Find additional information here, and a complete list of dates below.
09/07 — Montréal, Quebec @ Off Piknic
09/09 — Portland, Oregon @ McMenamins Edgefield
09/12 — Chicago, Illinois @ The Salt Shed
09/14 — New York, New York @ The Brooklyn Mirage
09/16 — Los Angeles, California @ Greek Theatre
Gorillaz is heading back out on the road with a new four-date run announcement across the US. Titled The Getaway tour, it will mark the final dates in support of the band’s last album, Cracker Island. It also follows the group’s two Coachella weekend performances last month.
They will be joined by Kaytranada, Remi Wolf, and Lil Yachty as support on all of the dates.
Tickets will become available starting with a Live Nation presale on May 31 that opens at 10 a.m. local time. From there, the general onsale will open to the public on Friday, June 2 at the same time. More information on tickets can be found through Gorillaz’s official website.
Across the pond, band leader Damon Albarn is also playing some dates across the UK with his other band Blur — giving fans of both projects and across the globe a chance to catch his music live. (Blur is also dropping a new album, The Ballad Of Darren, as their first new release in eight years.)
For now, find the complete list of new Gorillaz tour dates below.
09/10 — Los Angeles, CA @ BMO Stadium
09/13 — Austin, TX @ Q2 Stadium
09/16 — Chicago, IL @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
09/19 — Boston, MA @ Fenway Park
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.
The other day, a DJ friend of mine posted a thread on Twitter pointing out how modern hip-hop isn’t really made for dancing. Somewhere along the way, the prevalent vibe for hip-hop songs became either the murky, muddy, drugged-out sound first popularized by Future or the boisterous, triumphant, standing-on-couches style best exemplified by Rick Ross. You can flex, you can jump up and down, or you can zone out to it, but mostly, folks in the club just stand around looking at their phones or filming other people standing around looking at their phones. Sometimes, there’s twerking.
Fortunately, Aminé and Kaytranada are here to save the day. I immediately forwarded my DJ friend the cover of their new album Kaytraminé (which doubles as the duo’s collective soubriquet), which by the group’s own estimation on Twitter is not just the album of the summer, but the literal soundtrack of it. I’m inclined to agree.
As soon as you press play on “Who He Iz,” the album’s opener, the first voice you hear demands that listeners leave their “cool” at the door. As Kaytranada provides a slinky beat reminiscent of Busta Rhymes’ masterful 1997 solo debut “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See,” Aminé spits rapid-fire, boastful verses in the same vein. It’s hard to resist the urge to shoulder shimmy — again, see the video for the above-mentioned Busta Rhymes classic — and they’re just getting started.
Across the album’s 11 tracks, Kaytraminé gets straight to the point: this is music that they want you to dance to. The star of the show in that regard is, of course, Kaytranada’s effervescent, up-tempo beats. The producer has earned a reputation over the past few years as the bridge between dance music, hip-hop, and R&B, adopting a production style equally influenced by house music pioneers as it is by RZA and The Neptunes.
Speaking of The Neptunes, Pharrell Williams makes an appearance here on the bouncy single “4Eva,” lending Kaytraminé the legitimacy of his legacy as the 2000s’ premier dance floor filler. Kaytranada’s impression of his production idol is beyond adroit; that he transforms the beat-making style of the maestro into a distinctive concoction recognizable as a Kaytra original with Pharrell on the song is an impressive feat, marking Kaytranada as a worthwhile successor. “Eye” is another successful effort in this vein, accented by sound effects from Sonic The Hedgehog and featuring frequent Pharrell Phriend Snoop Dogg.
What’s even more impressive: it’s not all champagne fizz and tropical vibes, yet Kaytraminé never loses the vibe of a consummate summertime album. “Westside,” despite channeling the ambiance of one of Ross’s lumbering, barrel-chested anthems, retains a thread of focus on moving the lower anatomy as much as mean-mugging the haters. “Rebuke,” a mellow, top-down cruiser, is as sure to provoke a two-step when listeners reach their destination.
And look, just because Kaytranada’s beats are the highlight doesn’t mean Aminé is out here slouching on the rhymes. If anything, it’s probably harder to write a good party song — let alone eleven of them — that suits the hip-swinging tempos offered here. Think about what kinds of songs have always gotten toes tapping at day parties and nightclubs throughout the warm months. They’re not often specifically about partying. Take, for instance, Snoop and Pharrell’s slew of collabs. They run the gamut from slick-talking gangsta funk to sensual flirtations with the sort of woman you’d meet at a summertime social gathering, directly addressed to enemies or admirers.
In this, Aminé is also a worthy successor. Whether putting down would-be rivals on “Master P,” preaching self-validation on “K&A,” or lamenting lost love on “Rebuke,” he’s good for winking punchlines and adept vibe-setting. The tightrope act between relatable and aspirational is one he’s long mastered, and he puts it to effective use here. By turns, Kaytraminé evokes the atmosphere of a warm night on the coast with a cloudless sky, a packed, small-room venue with free-flowing drinks and vibrant energy, and a pool party where people actually get in the pool. If that ain’t summer, I don’t know what is.
Lightning In A Bottle Festival will stage its 20th anniversary from Wednesday, May 24, to Monday, May 29, promising “five days of music, art, yoga, talks and workshops, camping, and more” in Buena Vista Lake, California. That’s a vast bill.
The bad news: The five-day schedule is intimating. The good news: It definitely contains all the information you could possibly need, and that’s before even mentioning the separate schedule for Learning & Culture, Art & Interactivity, or Yoga & Movement lineups.
The music portion of the festivities will be divided across six stages: Lightning, Thunder, Woogie, Grand Artique, The Junkyard, and The Stacks. The marathon begins tomorrow, May 24, with Beau Sebastian (6-7:30 p.m. local time), Armando Kroma (7:30-9 p.m.), Marcos (9-10:30 p.m.), Cody Lee (10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.), and Saand (12-2 a.m.), all at The Junkyard.
Thursday, May 25, kicks off at 11:30 a.m. on the Junkyard stage with Blake Rudolph and will rage on until 2 a.m. with Evan Hatfield (12:45 a.m.-2 a.m.) on Grand Artique and a surprise guest slated from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. at The Stacks.
Friday’s slate features 070 Shake (9:30-10:30 p.m.) on the Lightning stage, Diplo (12-2 a.m.) on the Woogie stage, and two surprise guests back-to-back from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. at The Stacks.
Come Saturday — how could anybody possibly have any energy left? — Rogelio will get the day started at 11 a.m. at The Junkyard, and that set will be bookended by Zhu on the Lightning stage (12:30-2 a.m.) Finally, Sunday, May 28, will welcome two more surprise guests and the likes of Sampa The Great (8:10-9:25 p.m.), LSDream (11:30 p.m.-12:45 a.m.), Tale Of Us (12-2 a.m.), and Littlefoot (1:15-2:40 a.m.).
See the rest of the packed schedule as well as other pertinent information below.
Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
It’s been a few months since Kaytranada and Aminé first announced their joint project, Kaytraminé. The pair have spent that time generating excitement among fans by teasing their highly anticipated self-titled album. Fans have been eagerly anticipating this release, and in April, they were finally given a preview with the duo’s first single under their new moniker. The track was called “4EVA,” and it featured none other than the iconic Pharrell Williams. Building on the anticipation, Kaytranada further piqued interest in the project during the initial weekend of Coachella, where he brought out Aminé to perform.
Recently, Kaytraminé released the artwork for the album. It exudes a warm and summery vibe, showing the duo relaxing on vibrant pink beach chairs. Aminé raises his champagne glass towards the camera, while Kaytranada is seen reclining, enjoying a joint. On the reverse side of the album, a broader perspective reveals more chairs and individuals in the surrounding area. It is there that they unveiled the tracklist, indicating the exciting features. Alongside the previously released track featuring Pharrell, fans noted the presence of collaborations with artists such as Snoop Dogg and Freddie Gibbs. Adding to the anticipation, Kaytranada and Aminé recently released another track called “Rebuke.” Now, fans can finally enjoy the album in full.
Kaytraminé Is A Match Made In Heaven
KAYTRAMINÉ, the album, is full of certified summer bangers. Not only is it chock-full of big features like Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams, it also has some surprisingly hard tracks. It’s an album that makes it difficult to pick a standout because every track has merit and can stand on its own. However, one track that stands out lyrically is “Westside.”
The track displays the antithesis to a typical rap bravado in a not-so-typical way. The wordplay feels fresh and clever, and Aminé’s flow is chill but biting. “This drink got me moving my jaw like I’m Drew / Barry more drinks in my stomach a pool,” Aminé raps. “Lord kill my ego, please take off the cool / I do not want to be compared to these fools.” The impressive wordplay alone is enough to check out the album. Have you listened to KAYTRAMINÉ yet? Sound off in the comments below.
KAYTRANADA is an artist whose genre may be hard to describe for some. While in a technical sense, it is EDM (Electronic Dance Music), he brings something new to it entirely – a groove. His music combines elements from house, dance, R&B, hip-hop, and more. Because of this diversified blend, KAYTRANADA has featured rappers and singers in his songs. This has been a constant throughout his entire career. Like other EDM artists, he’s also remixed other songs, some of them being chart-topping pop hits. However, his latest endeavor is a full collaboration album with rapper Aminé. The title of the album – and their duo – KAYTRAMINÉ creatively combine their names.
KAYTRANADA Went Through A Journey
KAYTRANADA’s genre-defining origins go back to the year 2010. At this point, he was going by the moniker Kaytradamus. He grew up in Canada and was born in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. He dropped out of high school to pursue music full-time and help his family financially. Under the moniker Kaytradamus, he released two projects and shortened his name to KAYTRANADA in 2012. One of these projects was a collaboration project with his brother, rapper Lou Phelps. The name of their duo was The Celestics. He began gaining notoriety through his remixes on SoundCloud and, in 2015, opened for Madonna for shows in the United States and Canada. Another landmark career moment is his Boiler Room DJ Set in Montreal from 2013, which has received over 19 million views on YouTube.
KAYTRANADA’s Albums Are Star-Studded
KAYTRANADA’s genre-blending debut album had a lot of heavy hitters. Titled 99.9%, the album has 16 tracks and an eye-catching cover. Naturally, there are several features on the album as well as instrumental solo tracks. These features included unique bands like BADBADNOTGOOD and Little Dragon, with the former having a strong connection to the rap world. Soulful singers like Anderson .Paak and Syd also made appearances. This debut album brought many new ears to KAYTRANADA’s music through these collaborations. After this, KAYTRANADA continued doing remixes/edits/versions of other songs. These were done for artists like singer Teedra Moses. This showcased his ability to adapt and bring something from one world to his. He also released more singles which featured the now-defunct duo VanJess, Kelela, and Ty Dolla $ign.
KAYTRANADA’s second album solidified his music in the game. This project had even bigger features than his debut project. This project, titled BUBBA, dropped in 2019. It featured heavy hitters like SiR, Kali Uchis, Masego, Pharrell, and more. This album is a special one in his discography. In 2020, he released the instrumental version of it. This is becoming more and more common with producers. Their listeners go to them for their production, but a song with vocals may only get to appreciate it during the song’s final instrumental moments fully. By having the instrumental version of the album available, his listeners can decide which version of their favorite songs they want to hear.
KAYTRANADA’s Collabs Are Notable
KAYTRANADA’s music is one whose genre is often called “dance” but calling it “genreless” may be even more accurate. On his EP Intimidated, released in 2021, he collaborates with singer H.E.R., bassist/singer Thundercat, and underground rapper Mach-Hommy. The one with Mach-Hommy, titled “$payforhaiti,” has him connecting with a fellow Haitian artist. However, many were introduced to KAYTRANADA through his work with the neo-soul band, The Internet. He’s credited as a feature on their song “Girl” and has production credits. He also remixed their song “Roll (Burbank Funk).” KAYTRANADA also co-produced the PinkPantheress single “Do you miss me?” He even ventured into the pop world and remixed Dua Lipa’s mega-hit “Don’t Start Now.” However, his biggest remix might be his version of Beyonce’s “CUFF IT,” which he debuted at Coachella 2023 and has not released on streaming services yet.
KAYTRANADA Will Continue To Be Himself
KAYTRANADA came out to the world in an interview with The Fader in 2016. Before this, he came out to his family as bi, but after more reflection, he came out as gay. Before these moments, he spoke of feeling like two people were inside him and like he was trying to be something he was not. These emotions affected his mental state, relationship, and interactions with family members. Since coming out, things have naturally been better in all aspects as he feels genuinely happy with himself and the relationships he has in his life.
Collab Album With Animé
KAYTRANADA’s upcoming collab album with Aminé titled KAYTRAMINÉ releases May 19, 2023, and is sure to continue to break boundaries. Since BUBBA, KAYTRANADA has done a few live performances. One was at Coachella in 2023, and the other was at Virginia music festival Something In The Water this year. KAYTRANADA’s set design featured visuals paired with the sometimes bold, sometimes more subdued but still danceable music he makes. Listeners will have to stay tuned to see if a tour follows the release of his latest album.
screaming..what is life?!
from the titles alone, which songs do you think will be your favorites? I’m so curious pic.twitter.com/u21Va3YQae
