L.A. producer-duo and London artist combine forces on intimate new ballad
Last week we shared with you a zoned-out track called “Radio Sick,” the latest joint from L.A. production duo Best Picture that featured a stunning guest verse from rising Queens rapper Deem Spencer. Today we’ve got another Best Picture single to share – a soulful, experimental hip-hop collaboration with London-based artist/producer Mag called “Kite.”
Airy piano textures combine with a serene acoustic guitar riff, conjuring a subtle and wondrous beat. Swelling synth layers bend and contort in tranquil ways as Mag lays down poignant verses in his focused, intimate croon. It’s a confessional track in which he ponders a wide range of aspects of his life, including his place in the world, and his ambivalence towards how he influences others. “I’m giving all of me/ You didn’t bother me/ Ain’t no apology/ Met a little brother/ Yeah I saw a lot of me/ And it bothers me/ Don’t know why it’s shocking me.”
Not only is Mag radiant on these verses, but according to Best Picture, he also helped collaborate on the beat as well. “We sent Mag the original version of Kite late last year. The song had been an elusive one for us, and after struggling to find the right person for the beat, Mag totally changed the way we understood it,” they explained. “By asking us to take the drums out of the original beat and incorporating his own personal production touches, Mag cut a deeper truth into the track, letting his own doubt take air.” Overall, it’s a beautiful ballad that runs the emotional gamut, and another high point for both Best Picture and Mag.
Additionally, both members of Best Picture – John War and Cubbi – are planning to drop solo records later this year, while Mag’s highly anticipated new mixtape is expected to arrive imminently. When these projects drop, we’ll be sure to bring you full coverage. In the meantime, listen to “Kite” below via Spotify.
