Ambient Rapper kllhhr Channels Grief into a Haunting, Fragile Single
The Atlanta artist's surprise breakout track blends ambient textures with rap, featuring a glum theremin melody and a voice that feels painfully authentic. Originally released in May, the song has gained traction online, partly due to its use in TikTok memes and a recent video. It includes a brief vocal appearance from tazparis, the founder of kllhhr's collective SIE, who died in January.
The self-released track "skin" initially appeared in May, but its accompanying music video, released two weeks before the review, propelled it to roughly half a million YouTube views. Earlier in the year, kllhhr's music began circulating through TikTok memes, helping to build his audience.
The song includes a short vocal appearance from tazparis, the founder of kllhhr's SIE collective, who died in January. kllhhr's unpolished, diaristic vocal style and the track's ambient textures have drawn comparisons to artists like LUCKI and early Spooky Black, situating him within a specific niche of the rap landscape.
The song's viral trajectory could elevate ambient rap's visibility, potentially inspiring other artists to explore raw, grief-stricken themes. For listeners, especially those dealing with loss, the track may offer a resonant form of catharsis. The inclusion of tazparis's voice might also solidify the SIE collective's legacy, creating a shared space for mourning. Yet, the intense melancholic themes could affect vulnerable audiences, underscoring the need for supportive engagement with such emotionally heavy art.