Lous and The Yakuza Is Back and Better Than Ever With "Kisé"
Fusing various genres to defy simplistic labels, Congolese-Belgian singer-songwriter Lous and the Yakuza is back with a long-awaited single, "Kisé," and an accompanying music video. The Brussels-based artist first gained attention in 2019 with the tracks "Dilemme" and "Tout est gore," whose melodic verses and distinctly snappy trap paved the way for the release of her debut album, Gore, in October 2020. In her new single, Yakuza explores the folly and passion of love and reestablishes herself as an artistic force to be reckoned with.
One of Yakuza's most distinctive characteristics is her proclivity for sonic and stylistic melanges; on "Kisé," she reminds us of this with Japanese-inspired album art and a music video in the style of celebrated film director Satoshi Kon. Much of her penchant for diverse artistic influences can be attributed to her multicultural background: born in the Congo, Yakuza moved to Belgium, then to Rwanda, then back to Belgium all before she turned 16. Now 25, she sings most of her songs in French, but often incorporates English and Kinyarwanda - a language spoken in the Congo and Rwanda - into her music. As with her lyrics, Yakuza is known for weaving together a variety of sonic elements to produce unique and seamless blends of trap, pop, and rap, and "Kisé" is no exception.
At only two minutes long, the track acts as a succinct example of Yakuza's poised swagger and razor-sharp lyrical delivery. The slinky single sees her teaming up with two producers from her debut album Gore, Mems (Damso) and El Guincho (Rosalàa).
A brooding intro taut with energy widens into a seductive and spirited verse as Yakuza raps in French about a relationship doomed from the start, leading listeners into a persistently catchy chorus as she repeats: "Kisé, kisé, kisé, kisé." Here, Yakuza purposefully plays with double meanings: "kisé" is not a word in French, but its pronunciation mimics those of the French phrases "Qui c'est?" ("Who is it?") and "Qui sait?" ("Who knows?"). The undisguised ambiguity adds another dimension of provocativeness and playfulness to the track, and while the exact meaning of the song is unclear, one thing is sure: Lous and the Yakuza is back and better than ever.
Watch the "Kisé" video below:
