The duo of Berlin-based Jan Lilienthal and Michael Nowatzky, otherwise known as the Kii, are fast becoming hip-hop's next monumental production powerhouse, and in a similar fashion to Take a Daytrip, are both collaborating and showcasing some of the world's best up-and-coming talents as they go. While their singles that boast the likes of Kelvyn Colt, SIIMBA SELASSIIE, and Kyle Bent are still catching ears and turning heads across the musical landscape, their stratospheric trajectory forges ahead with the rapturous and swaggering "Flip The Switch."
Connecting with artists that wholly suit their distinct, yet ever-fluctuating sound rather than clout alone, this time around they unite with the strong talents of Yung Fume and Elijah Malik, which sees their digitally globe-trotting mission visit South London and San Francisco respectively. Having worked with Malik earlier this year on their previous single "Xmen," they struck up a clear synergy that continues with an entirely different shade of both of their sounds. Speaking to their connection in an email statement, the Kii outline that, "We are just enormous fans of Elijah’s work. He is constantly developing, from week to week he learns and adapts new styles. We can’t wait to release more music with him in the near future!”
Never ones to rely on sample-heavy productions, much of their unparalleled sound is garnered by their background as multi-instrumentalists. Warping their original recordings into crisp and envelope-pushing productions, they achieve an ahead-of-the-curve take on contemporary hip-hop, swathed in their uniquely anti-cookie cutter approach. Opening with a dusty guitar loop, the mildly disjointed arpeggiated melodies offset the rapidly applied beat with a heady, chest-knocking rhythm. Yung Fume's highly melodious flow further elevates and soars atop, delivered with such dutiful and bolshie confidence, that the beat maintains to not pull focus. Taking cues from the previous verse, Malik's slick bars match that same energy, pushing the rhythms and flow in fresh directions, without deviating from the masterfully simplistic aesthetic.
With four standout singles under their belt in eight short months, expect big things from their debut project later this year.
Connect with the Kii: Website | Instagram | Spotify
