New Artist Spotlight: Yung Kayo
By: Harry Sutton
Yung Kayo’s music feels like it came from the future. Sitting halfway between Migos and 100 Gecs, the 19-year-old Washington D.C. native creates a chaotic atmosphere that sounds like playing Xbox in hell. His instrumentals anxiously squirm and wriggle around, desperate to escape their confinement. Kayo’s captivating style put his name on the map and eventually garnered interest from a trap legend.
He started making music when he was 10, began releasing singles at 15, and found his first breakthrough at 17, after his song called “Glitch” caught the attention of Young Thug. “Glitch” was produced by Warpstr, a name that has stayed consistent in the production credits for a vast majority of Kayo’s releases – even after he signed with Thug’s Young Stoner Life Records. Warpstr was integral in creating the ethereal sound that brought Kayo success, and the duo have continued to collaborate. Once Kayo was brought to the top by king slime, he appeared on runways for Vogue and was featured twice on 2021’s Slime Language 2.
In February 2022, Kayo dropped his debut album DFTK (Down For The Kount) nearly two years after announcing the project. Spanning just over 35 minutes, the record provides a great argument for Kayo to be the next big thing in the new wave of trap. Kayo’s delivery varies between belligerent screams and crooning melodies, exploring many flows over dynamic production. Some highlights of the LP include the propulsive “it’s a monday,” the silvery “kiko,” and the melodic trap banger “everything new” featuring Gunna.
On his birthday in November of 2022, Kayo dropped a quick EP titled nineteen, with a darker and grimier trap vibe. On the 20-minute project, Kayo moved toward the standard industry trap style, borrowing producers from rappers like Yeat, LUCKI, and Lil Uzi Vert.
Kayo’s first two releases have given the world a sense of what he brings to the table, and it will be exciting to see what the fledgling artist can achieve with his next endeavors. Whether he chooses to drop bellicose rap verses or spacey, glistening tunes, Kayo is not just another teen hoping to mimic the style of Ken Carson, but a genuinely innovative trap artist.