PRISM MEDIA
PRESENTING REALITY IN SLOW MOTION.
By Mike Mekus
3/10/2022
With “INSOMNIAC”, Brandon Kai of Tampa, Florida displays extreme confidence, impressive flows, and marked growth as a rapper.
Tampa rapper Brandon Kai’s newest single, “Insomniac”, shows heightened confidence and continued growth from the young rapper. Kai’s earlier music (he’s been active on the scene since 2018 when he was only 18-years-old) was competent. It was reminiscent of Bryson Tiller’s hugely massive T R A P S O U L (this makes sense, seeing as that album was one of most popular pop/hip-hop albums of the last seven years); the music was solid when Kai was 18, but also could be, if viewed with a less-than-favorable interpretation, seen as music from an artist still discovering his own personal voice and style. With “Insomniac”, Kai truly steps into his own lane.
“Insomniac” is the perfect title for the single, because musically, it feels like the exact type of song to match the energy of a late night out that drifts into becoming an all-nighter, mostly spent pursuing woman and partying. Such lyrics like “Stressing bout no bitch cause all they do is actin two-faced/No time for apologies, that’s how you know it’s too late” and “Talking zodiac signs/And I know she Gemini/By the way she switch it up/From the day into the night/Swear it’s different every time/Only fuckin with dimes” feel appropriately as grimy as they do envy-inducing.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of his newest single is the way in which Kai effortlessly blends various flows and switches between them throughout the track, all of which display unique ability and astute pop sensibilities. Kai seems completely in control as he takes us on the journey of the song, masterfully commandeering the effective and pulsating beat (produced smartly by DSTNT, who deserves plenty of kudos for the strings on the outro, as well). “Insomniac” shows marked growth from a 21-year-old who already displayed plenty of talent coming out. If this is a sign of what is to come, the early returns look more than promising.