He’s back with a Drake-supported album ‘BLackneck’
The album not only proves how vital k-os is and his genre-defying contributions to hip-hop, but BLackneck also shows how much the music world owes to these two Toronto artists.
Before Toronto became synonymous with hip-hop, k-os was taking the genre somewhere new.
While other artists were creating music specific to their region and genre, k-os was fusing genres including hip-hop, rock, soul, funk, psychedelia and pop.
He solidified his place as one of Canada’s most important musical exports with albums such as Exit (2002), Joyful Rebellion (2004) and Atlantis: Hymns for Disco (2006). Joyful Rebellion contains some of the best hip-hop songs ever recorded by Canadian artists, including “Crabbuckit” and “Heaven Only Knows”. This album is seen as a landmark moment for Canadian hip-hop.
After over a decade since his last full-album, k-os has returned with BLackneck. This seven track album has been funded by Drake who is also listed as an executive producer.
It is a beautiful moment of circle-jumping, as Drake has spoken in the past about how much he admires k-os and the younger Toronto rapper has used his funds to allow one of his musical forefathers to make another album.
However, this is very much k-os.
Throughout BLackneck, you will find a range of styles including boom bap, country, R&B, indie rock and psychedelia. The album opens with the grand orchestral opening of “Still Number One”. “OK Corral” is the perfect blend of hip-hop and country, “EUREKA!” delivers a catchy alternative hip-hop track and “i would never,” features a rock influence with the guitar being front-and-centre. The track was produced by legendary Canadian producer Bob Rock.
This is a brilliantly unpredictable album, especially considering this artist has never been one to stick to one sound.
This is why k-os is so important.
Not just to the Canadian hip-hop scene but to a whole generation of artists who broke the mould and made it okay for rappers to experiment with genres. This has led to many of the biggest artists in the world experimenting with genres.
k-os was doing this long before the current generation.
It is amazing to see Drake fund this legacy. Often pioneers aren’t invested in by the industry but this is a really meaningful gesture.
Although this album is only seven tracks long, it is a real opportunity for one of Canada’s most unique voices in hip-hop to remind everyone why they are so special.
Although Drake has helped fund this album, it is entirely k-os’ vision.
Hip-hop culture is better because of him.
