KOTA THE FRIEND explores true love across his new record PROTEA
One of the most recognizable voices across the rap landscape Kota The Friend delivers his highly-anticipated project Protea – set to drop Friday 30 th June. A blossoming amalgamation of eclectic, sun-kissed textures, Brooklyn native Kota The Friend continues to create genuinely feel-good music with his latest record Protea; laced with powerful words of affirmation that shines a light across the realities of expression, romanticism, and the wonder of existence. The multi-hyphenate artist showcases his intricate and self-assured penmanship while celebrating the love of his life – his wife. Backed by immense collaboration from artists featured across their wedding playlists, Kota’s ethereal musicality is as beautiful as it is meaningful. With blissful summer vibrations harnessed throughout each track, Protea will no doubt continue the heat surrounding a true flagbearer at the apex of his emotional and intellectual capabilities.
Setting an intimate tone from the off-set, the 16-track body of work opens with the jazz-infused “Super 8” ft. fellow NYC superstar Wolftyla – a vibrant soundscape that perfectly encapsulates Kota’s warm cadence and Wolftyla’s honey-kissed falsetto gleaming with promise. Harmonizing in a field of psychedelia, the two plead their lust to a thrilling love affair and envision beautiful settings if fate can bring their journeys together.
Maneuvering through mellow interludes that tail heartfelt conversations between Kota and his wife, “The Good” details true love and appreciation while “The Bad” reconciles with the complicated crossroads faced in a relationship, balancing the complexities of vulnerability before the breezy summer vibrations quickly resume across “Barcelona”. Gliding atop mellow rhythmics and bright-eyed percussion, Kota delivers an infectious hook while revered South London talent Samm Henshaw flexes his vocal range with typical finesse – a standout collaboration from two creatives bridging the gap across international borders.
Further notables include “Forget About It” ft. UK musician Zak Abel, “Protea”, “Keep Me Goin” and “Road Rage” ft. Grammy-nominated vocalist Aloe Blacc, closes off the record with high-caliber house textures that blend with dream-like synths and jazzy brass undertones, creating a beautiful environment for Kota to explore his free-flowing introspection that shines front and center. Maneuvering through the heart of Brooklyn, NYC, Kota has been surrounded by vibrant cultural influences that have assisted his impulse for rich, self-produced soundscapes and vivid, storytelling lyricism. A standout instrumentalist playing piano,
guitar, and trumpet, Kota quickly found success as an independent artist before receiving breakout status in 2020 for his smash record EVERYTHING. Boasting key collaborations with major US stars incl. Joey Bada$$, Bas, and KYLE, Kota entered the BILLBOARD charts as well as gaining critical support from the likes of INTERVIEW MAGAZINE, COMPLEX, ROLLING STONE, and HYPEBEAST – announcing an exciting new talent breaking creative boundaries on an international level.
Now sitting on 700M streams and 2.4M dedicated monthly listeners, Kota The Friend is carving his own lane as a leading voice across the rap scene. With Protea fast approaching, 2023 looks set to be another definitive moment in his already high-calibre discography.