Bubba Kush is a formidable Indica strain of marijuana, well known for its sedative, relaxing effects. The potent drug lent both inspiration and its name to Kaytranada’s second album, which arrives 3 years after 99%, the producer’s critically acclaimed debut project. While 99% thrived on Kaytranada flexing his production chops to dabble in styles outside of his signature future bounce sound (such as the trap oriented “Got It Good” and “Glowed Up”), Bubba feels like a return to, and reaffirmation of his roots.
Kaytranada first began his career releasing a number or lo-fi, funk-driven, house remixes on Soundcloud. He focused primarily on classic turn of the millennium R&B stars, from Mariah Carey to Janet Jackson (such as the now famous “If” remix). Bubba pushes onward with this sound, slipping and shifting slowly through its 50-minute runtime. The project features a slew of collaborators within the current lo-fi R&B sphere, including Kali Uchis, Goldlink, Masego, SiR, and Tinashe. The songs on the project transition seamlessly into one another, giving the feeling of a relaxed but meandering late night adventure. Like its namesake marijuana strain, the production on Bubba feels hazy at times, like a low-key after party where people are slowly nodding off to sleep on a couch. However, certain tracks standout from the majority of Bubba’s never-ending weed coma.
A definitive highlight is “The Worst In Me,” which features a melancholic, repeating synth as Tinashe slides effortlessly over the moody bass line. On “10%,” Kali Uchis demands her fair share of love (or royalties), singing the catchy refrain “You keep on taking from me, but where’s my 10%?” The song “2 The Music” sounds like a tune straight out of a 90’s late-night R&B radio station, and I can’t help but smile while imagining people dancing to it in a dark club wearing thick-rimmed glasses and high-waist jeans from that era.
Outside of the numerous collaborations, the album features a mere 4 instrumental tracks, which end up feeling more like unfinished demos than full-fledged songs in their own right. “September 21” begins with a light synth and rolling snare drum, giving me flashbacks to the soothing ambiance found in parts of Boards of Canada’s music. A bass line starts to slink its way through the song, but it doesn’t progress much further than that, stalling out before anything more interesting can happen. The album ends with a Pharrell collaboration, who brings his distinct brand of dad-funk to the track. The song fades out, and, just as you think the album’s over, Kaytranada strangely slips in one last groovy instrumental before the project actually comes to an end. You’re left in a post-Bubba dream state, still silently grooving to imagined bass lines, as Kaytranada’s otherworldly blue eyes look out at you approvingly from the album cover.
Score: 6/10
Favorite song: The Worst In Me
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