Letters From Laika, by Kay The Aquanaut & Factor

Letters From Laika

by Kay The Aquanaut & Factor

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	1.	And Die For Tomorrow 01:59
	2.	Radio 02:51
	3.	Steppenwolf 03:58
	4.	Lullaby for Cupid 02:45
	5.	Young Sagittarius 02:52
	6.	Wander 03:36
	7.	Shooting Range 02:07
	8.	New World, New Girl 03:12
	9.	Black Stones 02:56
	10.	Pangean Drift feat. AWOL ONE 03:16
	11.	The Story Lives On 03:39

about

Kay The Aquanaut and Factor have already secured their places in the pantheon of underground hip-hop greats. Either together or on their own, the two artists have spent the last 10+ years cultivating a unique and multi-varied sonic world that puts a premium on witty wordplay and grooves that run deep and true.

With the release of the Saskatchewan-based duo’s upcoming collaboration Letters Fom Laika, don’t be surprised if the rest of the music-loving world finally starts to catch up with what true hip-hop fans have been saying about these two for years. Kay the Aquanaut is one of the most quick-witted rhymers around, mixing bleeding edge pop culture references in with his own clear-eyed visions of the world at large, while Factor backs up his collaborators every step of the way with minimalist tracks that lean on a wide range of influences: from Modeselektor and Freestyle Fellowship to Thom Yorke and Gordon Lightfoot.

Letters is cut from a whole new cloth for this pair. A departure from established hip-hop production norms, each song was built up from scratch with chopped up live instruments pulled from a bevy of collaborating musicians. It may have taken them the better part of 2012 to put it all together, but that care and dedication pours out from every track.

Kay the Aquanaut responds to the splashy production and futuristic vibes with some of his most far-reaching lyrical work to date. The nimble rapper takes on a variety of topics, all related to personal and societal evolution as seen through the eyes of the titular mongrel pup who was launched into space by Russia way back in 1957. There are protest songs, love songs, memoirs of modern living, and memoirs of a modern death.

Letters From Laika is no overstuffed hip-hop disc, spilling over with guest rhymes and filler. In fact, you’ll only find one track that features a voice other than Kay—”Pangean Drift” boasts a drop in by L.A.-based icon Awol One. Otherwise, this is a lean, mean, artful and funky album that will scratch the many mental itches of the world’s music lovers. This is a hip-hop/sci-fi soundtrack for our dystopian future, and a dancefloor-filling banger for the space dog in all of us. The countdown is beginning...don’t miss your chance to hop on board this ride into the deepest reaches of the universe.

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released February 12, 2013

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supported by 7 fans who also own “Letters From Laika”

First off shout out to Factor Chandelier because these are dope beats. Producers (and DJs) never get the credit they deserve as the "backbone of hip-hop". But this is about the lyrics and they are fucking sick. Sometimes a bit twisted. Fantastic. American Expre$$ in particular is a standout. It's an Econ 101 lesson to Corporate America. Or maybe a statement that simply says "your greed dug your own graves and here's what I think about you". Well said indeed. always_kos
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Unbelievable album. You sir definitely keep hiphop as real as it gets. Thanks for all your dope shit over the years and hope to keep hearing more for years to come. yukoncornelius69
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it's good.. real good. rock on.. Dt50333
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Jesus what an absolutely stunning collection of hip-hop. If I have to be a dick, this album is more of a mix tape in style, the aesthetics of each song is just so different, there's a certain level of narrative disconnect. That said, the actual songs themselves are fucking ill. Packed with dope features, each one matched with Scott's production makes for a genuinely rewarding listen. Rest easy man, you'll be missed. always_kos
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