15 K Songs: No Rhyme or Reason

Reading Time: 15 min read

15 K Songs: No Rhyme or Reason features music courtesy of Burna Boy, Doja Cat, Jay Rock, Manchester Orchestra, ur pretty & Whitechapel.

h, fun creating a playlist with limited criteria – freedom feels so free! Are you as prepared as I (we) am (are) to highlight the letter K? We’re back with another NO RHYME OR REASON playlist, covering the 11^th letter of the alphabet. The main criteria for

15 K Songs: No Rhyme or Reason are that the title of the song must begin with the letter ‘K’ OR the word that begins with ‘K’ must be the first word of note.

15 K Songs: No Rhyme or Reason features music courtesy of Burna Boy, Doja Cat, Jay Rock, Manchester Orchestra, ur pretty, and Whitechapel among others. So, grab some ‘phones and your favorite snack and get into these stellar ‘K’ songs selected with NO RHYME OR REASON!

1. Doja Cat, “Kiss Me More”

Ft. SZA

Planet Her • Kemosabe / RCA • 2021

Back with another hit, Grammy-nominated artist Doja Cat taps a fellow Grammy nominee, SZA for the assist on “Kiss Me More”. The first time you hear “Kiss Me More,” it’s infectious to the nth degree. There are several reasons why this joint is so successful. For one, it goes to the track’s underpinnings – the harmonic progression used is sweet. Furthermore, the lush production work awesomely supports sweet vocal performances by both Doja Cat and later, SZA. Worth noting, an Olivia Newton-John classic, “Physical”, further fuels that fire.

Doja Cat both sings and rap, showing off her incredible versatility. She brings the heat on her rhymes coming over aggressive and sexed-TF-up (“I, I feel like fuckin’ somethin’” and “Niggas wishin’ that the pussy was a kissin’ booth”). Furthermore, she remains playful. As for SZA, she brings vocal contrast on the third verse, matching the aggressiveness of Doja (“Pussy like holy grail, you know that / You gon’ make me need bail, you know that”). Once more, Doja Cat has constructed another surefire bop – it screams H-I-T / B-O-P!

Also appears on :
Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: April 2021
Kisses: An Intriguing Compendium of Kiss Songs

2. ur pretty, “Keep Riding Me”

“Keep Riding Me” • ur pretty • 2021

Four words: “Just keep riding me.” How about six words: “Just keep on fucking me deep.” Now that is sexual AF, NO CAP! ur pretty ( Jake Hill) intended the lyrics to involve those private parts. Furthermore, “Keep Riding Me” doesn’t go straight – it’s G-A-Y. “I can’t think straight when I look into your eyes,” Hill sings on the first verse, later adding, “Yeah, your mustache tickles my nut sack, baby.” Wow – TMI! It doesn’t stop there, folks, on this sub-two-and-a-half-minute joint! “You got a way with your words and a big fat cock.”

“Flip me over, beat my meat up while you pound it.” Holy ! The lyrics are ‘something else’ to say the least – UNDERSTATEMENT. That said, in this case, they should be taken with a grain of salt. “Keep Riding Me” feels less an ode to male-on-male love than, say, pop-punk humor. Regardless, Hill serves up some compelling vocals. His best moment comes by way of the risqué chorus, which is sexed-up to the nth degree but also, entertaining:

“He spreads my cheeks, and he makes me scream
He’s my number one daddy, gotta make him cream inside of me
Just keep riding me
When I’m slurping him down, it’s my favorite sound
You let out a little moan, what a beautiful tone
So softly, just keep riding me.”

Also appears on :
Ur pretty, “Keep Riding Me”: After Dark No. 35

3. Burna Boy, “Kilometre”

“Kilometre” • Atlantic • 2021

Burna Boy, "Kilometre" [📷: Atlantic] “Kilome, kilome, kilometres!” Grammy winning Nigerian rapper/singer Burna Boy (Damini Ogulu) returned with the electrifying “Kilometre”. Despite being just a little more than two-and-a-half-minutes, it’s a total vibe! “Kilometre” was produced by Chopstix, who gives Burna Boy a sick backdrop to work with. The groove is potent, while the sound is vibrant, idiomatic of global music. This provides Burna Boy with ample fuel for the fire.

Burna is on autopilot from the start, beginning with a hella catchy chorus that will stick in your head for days. On the verses, he’s also fiery, performing in his native dialect, dropping some sensational bars. Even with the distinct differences “Kilometre” has compared to an American pop/ rap song, there are numerous bars that truly hit hard and resonate throughout. Truly talented, Burna Boy proves he is indeed an African Giant on “Kilometre.”

Also appears on :
Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: May 2021
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An Alphabet of Random Songs

4. Panic! At the Disco, “King of the Clouds”

Pray for the Wicked • Fueled by Ramen • 2018

“With these dreams, I inflate, painted skies in my brain / Every day, I’m Carl Sagan in space / To escape this old world, this old world.” Brendon Urie and Panic! At the Disco dropped Pray for the Wicked in 2018. The album didn’t match the quality of Death of a Bachelor but yielded some more memorable moments for the alternative ‘band.’ “King of the Clouds,” the standout ‘K’ song at hand, appears as the ninth track from Pray for the Wicked.

“Some only live to die, I’m alive to fly higher / Than angels in outfields inside my mind.” Again, okay… right. “King of the Clouds” successfully fuses alt-pop with elements of throwback soul. Panic! At the Disco has always been eclectic, so it’s not surprising that “King of the Clouds” doesn’t have a concrete stylistic characterization. Short and sweet, the strings, organ, and that sweet falsetto by Brendon Urie are the biggest selling points. The chorus is pretty royal to say the least.

“I’m the king of the clouds, of the clouds
I get lifted, I get lifted
I’m the king of the clouds, of the clouds
I get lifted, I get lifted.”

Also appears on :
11 Songs All About His Majesty, The King

5. Whitechapel, “Kin”

Kin • Metal Blade • 2021

Whitechapel, Kin [📷: Metal Blade] “And I know you want us to be together / And I know it’s hard to accept forever,” Phil Bozeman sings on the chorus, continuing, “Our delusion is the easy way out / But it’s time for both of us to let this go.” Hmm, is it a relationship of sorts that the Whitechapel front man addresses on “Kin,” the 11^th and final song on the 2021 album, Kin? Perhaps. What is clear is that he addresses the past – specifically a traumatic childhood – and makes it clear there are things he must let go.

“Can I just have one last moment to say goodbye?
I need to feel them against me one last time.”

“Kin” runs a robust five-and-a-half-minutes. It’s a worthwhile five-and-a-half minutes exhibiting terrific musicianship. Surprisingly, Bozeman opts against the screamed, shouted vocals in favor of gorgeous, clean vocals. His authenticity and sincerity is impressive. Also impressive is the radiant melody – tuneful for a Whitechapel song. As far as sound, I love the mixture of guitars and piano. The second verse provides contrast with the addition of vocal harmonies. The big moment on “Kin” comes prior to the three-minute mark. Here, the record intensifies with heavy, souped-up guitars and pounding drums. I heart the increase in dynamics. Furthermore, the extended instrumental section is EPIC. Following the rousing guitar solo, we Bozeman concludes with the chorus, in all its glory.

6. Prince and the Revolution, “Kiss”

Parade – Music from the Motion Picture Under the Cherry Moon • Warner • 1986

“You don’t have to be rich, to be my girl / You don’t have to be cool to rule my world.” That’s an awesome message to a potential lover, Prince! Those iconic lyrics hail from The Purple One’s beloved no. 1 hit, “Kiss” ( Parade) among the greatest kiss-related songs of all time. This 1986 gem is nothing short of awesome: “Ain’t no particular sign I’m more compatible with / I just want your extra time and your… KISS!”

Prince and the Revolution outdo themselves on “Kiss.” The groove is E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G. Prince gives a dynamic performance that oozes with personality and showcases his ripe, flawless falsetto. Essentially, thematically, Prince speaks about what his potential girlfriend must do to be with him, and it’s more sophisticated than not. “You got to not talk dirty, baby, if you wanna impress me,” he sings on the second verse, continuing, “You can’t be too flirty, mama, I know how to undress me.” “Kiss” is sexy to the nth degree. It should come as no surprise that Prince and the Revolution won the Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for “Kiss.” Rest in prince, Prince.

Also appears on :
Kisses: An Intriguing Compendium of Kiss Songs

7. Sleeping with Sirens, “Kick Me”

Madness • Epitaph • 2015

“Fuck you and your opinion / How could you be so blind? / What goes around / Comes back around in time.” Woo! If you need a totally angry record in your life, Kellin Quinn and Sleeping with Sirens have one for you – UNDERSTATEMENT! It’s safe to say that “Kick Me,” a highlight from their 2015 album Madness exemplifies being pissed off.

The pre-chorus is amplified by profanity. Quinn sings:

“You don’t know shit
You don’t know shit
About me
You don’t know shit, shit, shit
Don’t know a goddamn thing about me.”

So, we have five ‘shits’ and one ‘goddamn’ – RIGHT ON ! Sleeping with Sirens save those f-bombs for the verses. Another arrives on the second verse, which is styled like the end of the first:

“Fuck you and your decision
Cause it’s not mine
What comes around
Comes back around in time.”

The energy and the vibe on “Kick Me” is electrifying. It’s amazing that Quinn sings so high with such punch !

Also appears on :
11 Songs That Either Kick or Push

8. Manchester Orchestra, “Keel Timing”

The Million Masks of God • Loma Vista • 2021

“Thunder inside my head, it’s rolling.” Woo – that’s disturbing, Andy Hull! Musically, him and alternative rock collective Manchester Orchestra shine on “Keel Timing.” “Keel Timing” is one of many highlights from their 2021 LP, The Million Masks of God.

As the excerpted lyric suggests, the record seems to address mental health, at least to some extent. The band provides further insight via Instagram:

“Keel Timing” serves as a prequel to “Bed Head.” It’s an isolated internal investigation about personal growth. Trying to decide what growth is positive and what growth is negative. And where do we land after that investigation.

That’s deep! Listening to “Keel Timing,” you can tell it’s cerebral. Even so, the quick pace and ample energy from the band makes it quite enjoyable and overall, quite accessible.

9. Rich Brian, “Kitty”

Amen • 88rising / EMPIRE • 2018

“Let me tell a story ‘bout a boy named Brian / This is no fairy tale, no, that’s not what I’m implyin’,’ Indonesian rapper Rich Brian spits on “Kitty,” a highlight from his 2018 debut album, Amen. He continues, “This is really not the type rhyme, writing ‘bout flexin’ / Got some bitches on the phone but I’m really not replyin’ type shit.” Okay… sure… A big note that must be made regarding “Kitty” is the fact that Brian isn’t literally talking about a cat on “Kitty”: “Ain’t no game that I play when it comes to / Gettin’ that kitty out the cage for my night.” “Kitty” is the dirtiest and arguably, most outrageous song on Amen, finding Brian capturing his sexual awakening.

Even as Brian is going through this sexual experience, there’s a humorous, twist. After getting drunk, meeting “the girl of [his] dreams,” Brian loses his virginity, gets caught by her mom, has his friend Mike pick him up, and finds out his first was Mike’s sister. MEOW!

Also appears on :
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10. Khalid, “Know Your Worth”

Ft. Disclosure

“Know Your Worth” • RCA • 2020

“Gotta keep, gotta keep, gotta keep your head up.” That’s uplifting, Khalid! In 2020, the Grammy-nominated R&B singer and Grammy-nominated production duo Disclosure linked up again! The result was the single, “Know Your Worth”. “Know Your Worth” is no “Talk”, but has its moments. Disclosure continues to impress with their bright, bubbly, and groove-driven production style – a fitting backdrop for Khalid. Regardless, he brings the heat on the chorus.

“You don’t know your worth
All the things I know that you deserve
Say it’s not real if it doesn’t hurt
Find someone you know will put you first
Find someone who loves you at your worst.”

All in all, Khalid delivers a respectable cut with “Know Your Worth.” It may not rank in the top echelon of the singer’s catalog but has its moments.

11. The Acacia Strain, “Kraken”

Continent • Prosthetic • 2008

“This is my wasteland, this is my ruin / This is the best thing that ever happened to me / You’ve read about me in the papers and seen me on TV / now we are meeting face to face.” The Acacia Strain have always been an intense band – understatement. Once more, on their 2008 album, Continent, the intensity – the hellishness – continues.

On “Kraken,” the band maintains the angular, jagged nature of the guitars, whose driving rhythms are truly frightening and unsettling. The vocals are coarse, gritty, and chocked-full of rawness, fitting to capture such a sea monster as the Kraken.

“I cut the hands and feet off of living things...
I am terror, I am famine
I am the worst that will ever happen to you
I am horror, I am exile
I am the worst thing that will ever happen to you.”

Is Vincent Bennett and company being literal, truly embodying the Kraken? Hard to tell with metal bands, but probably not. Sensationalism and being dramatic is part of script after all.

Also appears on :
21 Songs Where the Monsters Are Out

12. Jay Rock, “King’s Dead”

Ft. Kendrick Lamar, Future & James Blake

Black Panther the Album Music from and Inspired By • Interscope • 2018

Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future, and James Blake join forces for hard-nosed banger “King’s Dead,” the second single from Black Panther the Album Music from and Inspired By. From the start, the beat is trunk-rattling. Kendrick Lamar drops a ferocious hook. Jay Rock gets ‘first blood’ with the first verse, matching the toughness of the backdrop. Future follows, with a variation on the hook, assisted by Kendrick Lamar.

Future is a perfect fit – this sounds like his elite, outlandish hooks.

“Fuck his baby mama tryna sneak diss
I took her to my penthouse, then I freaked it
I haven’t made my mind up, should I keep it?
I got big dog status, it ain’t no secret.”

The bridge, mostly performed by Future, is bizarre, including the famous lyric, “Slob on [me] knob.” Later, James Blake initiates the second part of the song, in all his enigmatic, electronic excellence. Lamar then proceeds to go H.A.M. on the second verse of the song. The beat and overall sound remains hard-hitting.

“Red light, green light, red light, green light...
Fast cars, fast money, fast life, fast broads
Egotistic, goin’ ballistic, why God?”

Also appears on :
11 Songs All About His Majesty, The King

13. Tech N9ne, “Kick it With Myself”

Planet Strange Music • 2018

“I was the only child ‘til I was 13 / Rather be lonely while dealin’ with Earthlings / Still I am reclusive with drug and liquor abuses / Having a solitary time was never the worst thing.” Veteran Kansas City rapper, Tech N9ne remained captivating and incredibly consistent on his 20^th album, Planet. It’s amazing how prolific Tech has been over the years, regularly releasing studio albums and collaborative projects. “Kick it With Myself” benefits from a unique, rock-influenced, rap backdrop. Tech N9ne’s bread seems to be buttered with eclectic production work – he’s incredibly versatile.

“Sick and twisted, I can kick it, we’re just lickin’, spliff get lifted / Some say I’m a misfit by the way that I’m drifted / But this gets the business, chips, bitches I’m gifted.” As expected, ‘Nino’ flexes hard, never missing a beat. Clearly, he doesn’t need anybody else to help him to do anything – he’s perfectly capable to “Kick it with [himself].” Furthermore, he could care less what others think, period. Yup, Tech N9ne possesses that nonconformist spirit.

“Kick it with myself, kick it with myself, by myself
I don’t need no help, I don’t need no help, no one else.”

Also appears on :
11 Songs That Either Kick or Push

14. Fugees, “Killing Me Softly with His Song”

The Score Columbia • 1996

Unbeknownst to many, the legendary Roberta Flack covered “Killing Me Softly with His Song” – she didn’t originally record it. Regardless, Flack has earned the honors of recording the definitive version of the song. I mean, reaching number one on the Hot 100 and winning two Grammys for one song – that’s success right there. Who would dare touch something so iconic? Fugees, that’s who! Perhaps it seemed Flack had no competition, but Lauryn Hill and company had something to say about that from their Grammy-winning rap album, The Score!

Hill and Wyclef Jean update the 1973 version for the 90s, which is rad! The beat is indicative of the hip-hop soul sound prevalent at the time. It naturally infuses freshness – there’s a new swagger. Furthermore, add in a robust bass line, ad-libs (Hill and Jean), and “Killing Me Softly” has a new identity for a new generation. Of course, the person who ‘brings it on home’ is Hill. Her voice is distinct – starkly different from Flack’s. Here, she prefaces the brilliance of her sole solo studio album ( The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill ,1998), and it’s awesome. Her nuance, the runs – it’s glorious over that dusty beat. “Killing Me Softly with His Song” is in great hands with Fugees too. Like Flack, they won a Grammy specifically for this song.

Also appears on :
Roberta Flack vs. Fugees: Head 2 Head No. 22

15. Rage Against the Machine, “Killing in the Name”

Rage Against the Machine • Sony Music Entertainment • 1992

“Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me!” Woo – that’s a bold statement Zack de la Rocha! Honestly, the entirety of “Killing in the Name” is bold by Rage Against the Machine. This angry, high-energy rap-rock record protests police brutality. The most famous song of their career arrived in 1992 on their self-titled album, following the infamous Rodney King incident. Prior to the scathing “fuck you,” de la Rocha asserts on the chorus, “Those who died are justified / For wearing the badge, they’re chosen white.” Wow – potent and sadly, relevant 30 years after the arrival of the record.

Zack de la Rocha is the star, painting a damning picture of racists and in this case, the police: “Some of those that work forces / are the same that burn crosses.” Besides a dynamic, turned-up performance by de la Rocha, guitar god Tom Morello shines, delivering kick-ass jagged riffs and a stellar guitar solo. Before de la Rocha even performs a note, Morello helps establish the ferocious tone of this 90s classic. Expectedly, a profane rock record protesting police brutality is going to earn a controversial badge and require censor-shit. More interesting is the controversy surrounding “Killing in the Name” in the 2020s. How? Well, shockingly, Trump supporters misinterpreted the lyrics, which goes against EVERYTHING they stood for (Blue Lives Matter, the republican party, and people like Trump himself). Ultimately, “Killing in the Name” marks one of the greatest songs of the 90s.

Also appears on :
Rage Against the Machine, “Killing in the Name”: Outlandish Rock No. 7
15 Compelling Name Songs

15 K Songs: No Rhyme or Reason [: 88rising, Atlantic,
Azyan Syazwani Rozik, Brent Faulkner, Columbia, EMPIRE, Epitaph, Fueled By Ramen, Gerhard G., Interscope, Kemosabe, Loma Vista, Metal Blade, The Musical Hype, Pixabay, Pexels, Polina Tankilevitch, PublicDomainPictures, Prosthetic, RCA, Sony Music Entertainment, Strange Music, Tima Miroshnichenko, ur pretty, Warner]

15 K Songs: No Rhyme or Reason | Playlist

Published by the musical hype on December 2, 2021December 2, 2021