Six years after the success of her critically acclaimed debut album Mykki (produced by Woodkid in 2016), Mykki Blanco is once again donning her quirky rapper suit in a bid to continue ‘opening doors’. As one of the first transexual stars in a scene not always noted for its tolerance, Mykki Blanco (a tribute to Lil’ Kim, alter ego Kimmy Blanco) has come a long way since her first record in 2012. She’s worked with the likes of Kanye West, Charlie XCX and Madonna! On Stay Close to Music, she collaborated with FaltyDL (signed to Ninja Tune and Planet Mu) and together, they held a series of jam sessions across Lisbon, Paris, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Her songs defy any sort of dogma, taking listeners off the beaten track of US rap. There are pop ritornellos such as ‘French Lessons’, which features a superb chorus by Anohni from Antony and The Johnsons, as well as the unstructured flows which have become Mykki’s signature (‘Lucky’) when she’s not taking off as she does on ‘Ketamine’ with Atlanta rapper Slug Christ. There’s no overpowering bass on this album - it’s more like a melodic message from the clouds. Whilst her fellow artists are still stuck in this world, Blanco continues to take rap to another dimension. © Smaël Bouaici/Qobuz