Hearing K-os first on “Supersstar Pt.1″ from his debut back in 2003, I knew he was someone to watch. Now with his 4th studio album Yes!, I truly enjoy hearing an artist who has grown into being. K-os manages to draw all of his influences into one project, without it sounding in the least bit contrite. Taking from rap, soul, rock, reggae, electronica, and pop and apparently less politically charged than his previous albums, Yes! is more of a fun album to make you laugh, dance, or just chill and listen. Wearing all hats in the production of Yes!, flowing between rapping strong verses and singing melodic hooks, we are never left wishing he’d return to one format over the other. It just works.

With two platinum selling albums (Atlantis and Joyful Rebellion), recipient of two Juno Awards in 2003 and 2005, and the Source Award for Best International Hip Hop Artist in 2003, Yes! is somewhat of a rebirth for K-os – on a new label, Nettwerk/Universal, the now Vancouver-based upstart label. Teaming again with Metric‘s Emily Haines and The Dear’s Murry Lightburn, these Canadian maestros create the funk rock “Uptown Girl,” my favorite on the album. Yes! can be purchased on Amazon and on K-os‘s website via iTunes.

“Uptown Girl” from Yes!

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

“Astronaut” from Yes!

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.