“What is trust if you can’t put it in no one?”
If you haven’t heard the name 2Kz yet, you will soon. To top off his success in 2018, the up-and-coming Toronto rapper and Drake/OVO co-sign released a new single last month entitled “What is Trust?” which has gained popularity among his fanbase. This track has a bounce to it and hits hard to say the least, thanks to producers The Others and MixedbySosa. “What is Trust?” has a similar uncompromising tone to that of his mixtape released earlier in 2018, Trap Rel8ted. Trap Rel8ted consists of twelve songs, and each hits harder than the next. The highlights of the album are feature singles “Worst,” “Wrist on Fleek,” and “Intern.” 2Kz also released a video for “By Myself,” directed by KR-Production, in which we see the rapper in his signature Polo t-shirt and ski mask, playing pool, as the cover of the album is in fact the 8 ball.
There is magic in his energy, just as there is magic in the 8 ball — Drake and producer 40 from OVO see it with clear eyes. 2Kz has been receiving much support from OVO Sound Radio, as well as personal support from Drake, receiving over 600,000 streams across all platforms. Drake notably posted about Trap Rel8ted, making sure to let his fans know that he too fangirls over good music.Clearly, the star is not afraid to showcase sounds that he believes in to the world.
While 2Kz is independent as of now, he is strongly affiliated with OVO and the Toronto rap scene. Like Drake’s 2018 effort Scorpion, there seems to be two sides to OVO. There is the chill R&B side, with singers and producers like PARTYNEXTDOOR, Majid Jordan, Roy Woods, PLAZA and dvsn, and then there is the hard hitting rap side. These acts include Drake at times, OB O’Brien and Baka Not Nice. OVO fans can see that Baka Not Nice and 2Kz share some aspects in that they both have a true, unapologetic tone to their music.
Drake fans, OVO Sound fans and all Cornellians alike should be on the lookout for 2Kz this year, if you weren’t already bumping “Wrist on Fleek” at your New Year’s parties.
Juliette Rolnick is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at [email protected].