Lous and The Yakuza and Joey Bada$$ Go All-In on "Amigo" Remix

Photo: Manuel Obadia Will

Congolese-Belgian musician Lous and the Yakuza (born Marie-Pierra Kakoma) had a busy 2020. Releasing her debut album Gore in October, making an appearance on A COLORS SHOW, starring in a Louis Vuitton campaign, and delivering a guest feature on Damso's QALF, Lous and the Yakuza quickly rose to the forefront of European music. Standout tracks "Amigo" and "Dilemme" earned praise from music pundits and fans alike.

After a few months, the Brussels-based songstress is back with a refreshing remix of "Amigo" that reaches across the Atlantic, featuring none other than New York's Joey Bada$$. The track is produced by El Guicho, whom Lous began working with after hearing his previous work with Rosalàa.

On "Amigo," Lous and the Yakuza sings in French, although she frequently shifts between her native Kinyarwanda and Kiswahili as well. The entire song wraps around one line: "la vie n'fait pas d'cadeaux," which roughly translates to "life is not a free ride." Meanwhile, Joey Bada$$ delivers his verse in Jamaican Patois. The proudly-Jamaican Joey Bada$$ has dipped into Caribbean-influenced music before on tracks like CJ Fly's "Rudebwoy," but this latest collaboration sees him go all-in.

The original single was accompanied by a striking music video, directed by Wendy Morgan. The visual opens with a solo dance number inspired by Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" video, and features Lous and co. riding horses and dancing in ruins in a celebration of life and community.

Check out the original video and new "Amigo" remix below: