Canadian hip-hop pioneerĀ k-osĀ unveils the 2025 anniversary reissue of his 2013Ā BLackĀ onĀ BLonde, a groundbreaking double album.Ā BLackĀ onĀ BLonde+Ā remains a unique fusion of rock anthems and classic hip-hop beats, and its titleāa nod to Bob DylanāsĀ BlondeĀ onĀ Blondeāreflects the albumās diverse and genre-defying essence.
ā5th album forced me into the 5th dimension. Feels like the first 4 records were just the research I needed to invoke BLack On BLonde. Dimension 5 is an echelon of measure thatās curved in on itself ever so tightly. Somewhere in the midst of making the album I felt that internal curve happen to me. When I discovered due to a meta error that BLack On BLonde was not released anywhere else in the world aside from Canada and the U.S. I listened to it again, like for the first time, like a first time listener. Ā It held up real good, and the sonic journey was a mind bending experience! So here it is, just ICYMI it, BLack On BLonde+ an unearthed, ambiguous, meta errorāĀ Ā says k-os.
The reissue not only honors the original album but also introduces a brand-new track,Ā āPocket Dial,āĀ adding an exciting new dimension to this already disruptive work. It unveils fresh insights, such as the iconic influence of Neil Young, whose sound is sampled on the track āPlay This Game.ā
Originally recorded at Hayden Christensenās deserted Laurel Canyon mansion,Ā BLack on BLondeĀ holds an important place in Canadian music history as k-os became the first Canadian hip-hop artist to release a double album. With its fusion of rock and old-school hip-hop, this project shattered expectations and set the stage for future genre-blending artists, including Drake, who has cited k-os as a key inspiration for hisĀ ScorpionĀ album.
BLack on BLondeĀ features exciting collaborations from a varied array of guests, including Black Thought (The Roots), Travie McCoy (Gym Class Heroes), Emily Haines (Metric), Sebastien Grainger (Death From Above 1979), Juno Award-winning Canadian rock singer/songwriter Sam Roberts and many others.Ā Always innovative, provocative, and fearless, k-os showcases said versatility by singing and playing drums, guitar and bass throughout the album.
k-os (“chaos”) is the stage name for Canadian alternative rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer Kevin Brereton.Ā k-os debut album,Ā ExitĀ released in 2002 and received positive reviews and critical acclaim. He has never been afraid to shake things up and experiment with different genres. In 2003, k-os collaborated with The Chemical Brothers on their single āGet Yourself High,ā which was nominated for āBest Dance Recordingā at the 2005 Grammy Awards.Ā Ā Joyful Rebellion, the Platinum-certified second album that won three Juno Awards, was released in 2004 and featured a total of six singles, including the international hit “Crabbuckit”, which won āBest Pop Videoā at the annual MuchMusic Video Awards, along with āBest Songwriterā and āFan Choice Awardā at the 2005 Canadian Urban Music Awards.Ā His follow-up album,Ā Atlantis, shipped Platinum, making k-os the first Black hip-hop artist ever to do so. From 1996 to 2016, k-os was the third best-selling Canadian hip-hop artist in Canada. He went on to releaseĀ Yes!Ā (2009),Ā Black on BlondeĀ (2013), andĀ Can’t Fly Without GravityĀ (2015), and is currently working on a new studio album,Ā Everyone In Your Dream Is You, executive produced by GRAMMY-winning artist Drake, due out later this year.
BLackĀ onĀ BLonde+Ā Track Listing:
Disc 1
- Spraying My Pen feat. Saukrates and Shad
- Diamond Sky
- NYCE 2 Know Ya
- C.L.A. feat. Travis McCoy
- Nobody Else
- One Time feat. Haines Vox
- Mojo On
- Try Again feat. Black Thought
- MTV
Disc 2
- The Dog Is Mine
- Donāt Touch feat. Sam Roberts
- Alone In My Car
- Put Down Your Phone!
- Billy Bragg Winners feat. Jay Malinowski
- Surfās Up feat. Sebastien Grainger
- Play This Game
- Wonder Woman (As My Guitar Gently Streets)
- BLondes
- POCKET DIAL
Ā
