This is the 3rd studio LP from Portland, Oregon rapper, singer/songwriter & music video director Aminé. Making his full-length debut in the summer of 2017 with the Republic Records-backed Good for You & fulfilling his contract with them releasing the sophomore effort Limbo during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns. KAYTRAMINÉ made their eponymous debut in the summer of 2023, now joining 10K Projects to embark on 13 Months of Sunshine coming off a handful of well-received singles.
“New Flower” produced by DJ Dahi & FNZ was a funky ass intro to get the ball rollin’ talking about success being all he wants whereas “Feels So Good” takes a rawer approach instrumentally flexing that the drank & his girl got him feeling great. “Sage Time” awkwardly admits to having depression soon as he nuts dabbling with hip house just before “I Think It’s You” tropically chooses to think about everything he’s lost.
Meanwhile on “Cool About It”, we have Aminé crossing over funk & house trying to maintain his composure with this woman he wants to sleep with leading into “History” taking a shot at alternative R&B talking about the previous run-ins he’s had with his partner. “Vacay” brings back the hip house vibes expressing his desire to get away from everything for a certain amount of time while “Familiar” blends alternative R&B, hip house, deep house, glitch pop, microhouse, chillwave & French house showing obsession for his romantic interest.
“Doing the Best I Can” gets the 2nd half of 13 Months of Sunshine going by hooking up some pianos singing that he’s trying when all of us are, but then “Temptations” soulfully talks about not knowing what he has until it’s eventually taken from him. “Be Easier on Yourself” opts for a slicker approach to the best advising not to be so hard on themselves while “Raspberry Kisses” asks for a woman to take him in now they’ve sealed the deal.
The title track starts the final leg with a 2-parter refusing to put shame on his name since he was named after his grandfather while “Changer” explains he has to be at terminal 7 when his girl wants to have dinner at 7, hoping the love he has for her doesn’t change. “Arc de Triomphe”samples “Has it Come to This?” by The Streets to make this hip house/UK Garage fusion wanting to know what everyone else on & “Images” featuring 454 ends by calling days in our life moments in time.
When you take in consideration of Aminé descending from Eritrean-Ethiopian heritage, it really shouldn’t come as a surprise to many that 13 Months of Sunshine acts as an overt love letter to his African ancestry. The production shows influences of alternative R&B, hip house, deep house, glitch pop, microhouse, chillwave, French house, UK garage, speed garage & 2-step refraining from having guests join him for most of the performances to his ancestors.
Score: 4/5
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