Reuniting with longtime collaborator Sam Katz, the producer behind 2022’s Svengali, Black Sheep finds the duo at their most comfortable and confident: Cakes wrote every bar, Katz did every beat. Over the course of the album, Cakes guides us through a spiritual trip from the clubs of Manhattan to the back blocks of Brooklyn. With features from Dawn Richard, Wuhryn Dumas, and more, Black Sheep is a work of survival and sees the decorated emcee fully aware of his power, his place, and no longer settling for less than he deserves.
Black Sheep’s inspired by seeing the world, embracing the nightlife and building community. Whether holding court, going through customs, or crushing competition, Cakes stands firm as a seasoned vet who knows his role and knows the game. He moves through mess with a wise poise, having persevered through blogs, SoundCloud, an ongoing global pandemic, and an ever-shifting music landscape prioritizing everything but talent and taste. Nevertheless, his critical and communal acclaim precede him: he’s played Glastonbury, Governors Ball, Sonar, and Whole Festival. He’s worked with everyone from Honey Dijon to Injury Reserve to Rye Rye.
Following the mutated house shuffle of previous single “Cakewalk,” which Cakes performed last month for COLORS, today’s single “Mind Reader” sees drum breaks shapeshift from four-on-the-floor to jazzier technicalities and back again, never interrupting the groove. Cakes and Stout bask in their own allure, having onlookers at attention while entertaining a new love on the dancefloor.
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