Kaytranada is sneaking his way out of dance music's fire exit, moonlighting as one of the most promising producers to lend a rapper a beat: he brings a bloodhound's nose for samples, low-ends that crack open speakers, and a late '90s pool of influences that couldn't be more on the needle. His test now is finding rappers worthy of his loops: Vic Mensa jogged over his kicks and chimes semi-effectively on "Wimme Nah," and Waldo did even better over twisted horror-score strings on "173." Last week, Mick Jenkins took his best shot over a chunky reworking of Missy Elliott's "The Rain." Mick gets away with some duds that a young Kendrick might have buried on an early tape--he spoke with so many layers, he must be onion... fuck a tidy room, it's dirty in these streets--but it's undoubtedly Kay's beats keeping these tracks afloat. Mick Jenkins' The Water[s] is available now.
