Minimal yet Funky and Danceable, Kaytranada is his Purest Self with AIN’T NO DAMN WAY!
Alberto Aliaga | September 22, 2025
Liam MacRae
There was a time that Kaytranada wasn’t the globally acclaimed DJ that had vocalists and rappers clamouring for a feature on one of his illustrious, genre-gapping albums. But to be fair, that was a long time ago. Nearly since the beginning of his journey - since even before his 2016 debut album, 99.9% - the Montreal-rooted producer whose stylistic reach can seemingly span any auditory space, has held the identity of a bridge. His position behind the boards - underlining each track and every project with his signature carving out of the tropical-tinged House spectrum - has seamlessly laced together everything from hip-hop, trap, and grime to AfroBeats, Highlife, and Reggae, and back to R&B and Neo-Soul. But now, with the release of his latest album, AIN’T NO DAMN WAY!, he’s offering fans an unapologetic, front-facing version of himself and his music. No flash, no filler, no features. Just pure production with some effortlessly placed samples, Kaytranada is transporting listeners to a 90’s-futuristic dance floor, blending the myriad textures he’s spent a decade exploring in a way that makes it a mosaic representation of his purest musical self.
It works because Kaytranada’s production speaks as loudly as any vocalist or rapper has on any of his prior works. Over the years he’s worked with - amongst countless others - Anderson .Paak, GoldLink, River Tiber, VanJess, Durand Bernarr, Charlotta Day Wilson, Mick Jenkins, and Don Toliver. Two years ago, he even put out an entire collaborative project with PNW rapper, Aminé. But he’s been able to draw in those innumerable talents because during that same time span, he’s crafted a sound so distinct that fans can pick it out within seconds. AIN’T NO DAMN WAY! is the culmination of his years of work, study, and love for the craft of beat-making. It’s the result of building his own stylistic corner of something as globally influential as House music.
Liam MacRae
The album’s release mirrors its core values: simple and direct. Kaytranada has in the past expressed his frustrations with the politics and promotion cycles of releasing music. With AIN’T NO DAMN WAY!, he takes a page from the past - a time when artists dropped music whenever they felt inspired. The minimal promo feels intentional, and the result is a project that’s familiar yet still pushes his signature sound forward.
Space Invader sets the tone for what’s to come. It’s a groove-driven, beat-forward experience, just like the next half-hour. Throughout, Kaytranada tips his fitted cap to the ‘90s by weaving in samples from J Dilla, TLC, Tangerine Dream, and The Neptunes, cleverly hiding the Easter eggs, and rewarding listeners who pay close attention to the details.
Rather than chasing big-name features or flashy hooks like all of his past projects, AIN’T NO DAMN WAY! opts for subtle hi-hats, layered textures, and carefully chosen samples that invite deep and intuitive listening, just as they do subconscious headnodding in any occasion from a house party and a club to a study session in the library with noise cancelling headphones. AIN’T NO DAMN WAY! a confident return to neo-dance music, stripped down and refined, allowing each beat to breathe and transport the listener to their listening state of choice.
The album solidifies Kaytranada’s seat at the table as a producer who has always balanced nostalgia with innovation, and always balanced production with features - but who can just as easily shape an album around the mass of talented artists drawn his way, or all by his lonesome, spinning the night away with the raw, unfiltered immersion into his signature sound.
Kaytranada is heading out on tour, co-headlining a stage near you with the legendary Justice. So check dates for your city.
