Kaytranada, real name Louis Kevin Celestin, was born in 1992 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. After relocating to Montreal, Quebec as a toddler, Kaytranada began DJing at age 14. His brother introduced him to producing software at the age of 15, putting him on a slow-burning path to success.
The young producer/DJ actually began under the name Kaytradamus in 2010, releasing a total of 8 projects under that moniker. Since then, he's changed his name, released a few more projects, and most recently, become a massive name and trend-setter due to his remixes of artists like TLC, Disclosure, Janet Jackson and many more.
His style comes from a love of R&B and an infatuation with J Dilla's production techniques. A quick listen to this man's incredible remixes will reveal J Dilla's paw prints all over them, and the delayed, boom-bap approach has really found a niche in popular culture as he continues to play festivals and sold-out shows all over the world.
The following is a list of essential Kaytranada joints. You'll find an effortless blend of R&B, soul, hip-hop, and electronica in each track, so sit back, close your eyes, and enjoy.
Disclosure - January [Kaytranada Edition]
A little gas from EDM's hottest brother duo will do wonders to blow up in popularity. This is exactly what happened when Disclosure and Kaytranada linked up for a run of shows, and an eventual official remix of the former's hit "January." Kaytranada keeps the track recognizable, but adds his signature drums, a new bassline and a little restructuring to make it hot.
Fugees x A Tribe Called Quest - Rumble In The Jungle [Kaytranada Remix]
Fugees x A Tribe Called Quest - Rumble In The Jungle [Kaytranada Remix]
It's no secret that Kaytranada loves some 90s music, and perhaps no remix embodies the spirit of 90s hip-hop more than this one, where A Tribe Called Quest trade verses with the Fugees to create a lyrical "Rumble In The Jungle." The song starts with, "Root to the fruit / More bass than Bootsy Collins / You verses me / Thats like Ali verses Foreman..."
That's about as hard as it gets...
Kaytranada - At All
Kaytranada is probably best known for his remixes and "editions" at this point in the game, but that doesn't mean all he can do is re-touch a track. "At All" proves that the boy is fully capable of constructing from scratch, and this wonky hip-hop take on house music is a modern masterpiece. Watch the girls go wild to it in the club, or just play it on the low at your apartment... either way it's perfect.
GoldLink - Sober Thoughts [Prod. Kaytranada]
GoldLink is an incredible MC. If you've never heard his flow, click here in addition to playing the joint below.
"I'm only 20 years old sounding like I'm 45." Indeed, this young gun is way wiser than his years may imply.
Mobb Deep - My Block [Prod. Kaytranada]
Getting a production credit on an original Mobb Deep track is about as hip-hop as it gets. If that isn't a sign that you've made it in this industry, I don't know what is. I remember when this came out, I was so stoked for Kaytranada. His golden-era style is a perfect compliment to Mobb Deep's OG flows. This is as essential as it gets.
Pharrell - Happy [Kaytranada Edition]
You probably have some sort of opinion about Pharrell's ultra-smash "Happy." I love the original, and even I think it's completely over-played. When I saw this released, I was skeptical, but Kaytranada really takes the song in to a new territory. It's soulful and awesome.
WARNING: If you don't want this stuck in your head for the remainder of the day, skip the play button...
TLC - Creep [Kaytranada's Creepier Edition]
The creepier edition of this song is absolutely fire. It can be taboo to touch classics, but when Kaytranada applies some of that J Dilla influence to TLC's "Creep," the product is undeniable. It's a free download, too.
Kaytranada - Hilarity Duff
Only the second original instrumental to appear on the list is "Hilarity Duff." This song has a Coolio "Gangsters Paradise" vibe to it, but with a super-futuristic feel. It's wonky and gangster-sounding, and one hell of a soundtrack to driving around with the windows down.
Vic Mensa - Wimme Nah [Prod. Kaytranada]
When Vic Mensa was searching for a producer to put out one of the hottest tracks of the summer, he landed on Kaytranada. You know what the two did together? They accomplished their goal.
"Wimme Nah" is the anthem for blowin' up, as Vic says he feels like the MJ statue in his city. Chi-town's youngest star has a positive attitude and a nice flow, only to be bettered by Kaytranada's epic production.
Janet Jackson - If [Kaytranada Remix]
This is the song on this list that's most likely to get your parents to dance. When you remix a Jackson, you better come correct. Luckily, Kaytranada doused this one with gasoline before setting it on complete FIRE. This is a free download, so take advantage of that.