With bands like Gnarls Barkley and Outkast, there has been a demand for a more expansive form of hip-hop. Drawing from funk, rock and soul influences, this new breed of hip-hop is providing a much-needed injection of life into the game. Dropping his hat in the ring is Canadian rapper, singer and songwriter K-OS.
His new album “Atlantis: Hymns for Disco” features punk, folk, ska and funk influences filtered through a hip-hop sensibility. The result is a free-flowing danceable record that moves seamlessly through multiple genres.
I received to my first exposure to his new album with the single “Sunday Morning.” This song features him singing over a poppy guitar-tinged track. It’s a bit Black Eyed Peas-esque, sans Fergie, but it works. It’s the type of record you play when you’re headed out for a night on the town. Plus the hook is absolutely infectious; before the end of my first listen I was singing along.
On the song, “Mirror in the Sky,” he takes on a sort of electro-ska sound. Again, he’s singing as opposed to rapping, but it works. He actually has a good singing voice and it works well with the production. Brimming with scratchy guitar and organ riffs, the track is a ska-influenced romp that bumps with a relentless bass line.
Barring Cee Lo and Lauryn Hill, he is the most genuine of the rapper-turned-singer set. He just dives fearlessly into the music, so it doesn’t come across as contrived. A perfect example of this is the track “Valhalla.” The guitar-driven track is everything Mos Def wishes he could do. K-OS is the only rapper I’ve heard make a rock song that doesn’t sound like a steaming piece of crap. He allows himself to be led by the music, so it doesn’t sound like he’s trying too hard.
Don’t get it twisted though; the kid can spit, as proven on the track “Eletrik Heat- The Seekwill.” The track is a futuristic b-boy cut, utilizing the same classic drum break as Rob Base’s “It Takes Two.” Operating this classic hip-hop motif, he adds musical flourishes to keep it from sounding like a stale old-school tribute. He uses a non-stop seamless flow reminiscent of Big Daddy Kane or Kool G Rap.
The album is not without its faults. The track, “The Ballad of Noah” is a victim of letting people only fit to be hype-men get a feature. He’s dope, but his crew…not so much. There’s only so much offbeat flowing one man can take. They bring the track down so much that it ends up sounding like an amateur demo.
Missteps aside, K-OS has put together a solid record that is a breath of fresh air in the otherwise stale hip-hop genre. He has found a way to marry genres that wouldn’t normally go together, all while maintaining his musical identity. So, if you’re looking for something different but accessible, then this album will definitely fit the bill.
“Atlantis: Hymns for Disco” is in stores now.
