Listen to “Don’t Call Again” [ft. Kari Faux] by Tkay Maidza
Tkay Maidza has just one thing left to say: “Please don’t call again.” Kari Faux won’t spare your feelings either: “I’ma keep it a buck witcha/I don’t fuck witcha.” But there’s a mournful edge to this slinky kiss-off, too. Maidza knows the breakup is final, because if she wavers now, she’ll sacrifice an opportunity for personal growth. “Out of murky water, I will blossom like a lotus/I guess that getting hurt is just a big part of the process,” she confides.
The latest single from Maidza’s upcoming Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 2 EP, “Don’t Call Again” also showcases the Australian artist’s impressive stylistic range. Her 2016 debut Tkay presented her as a pop-leaning rapper in the vein of M.I.A. or early Nicki Minaj, but each of her recent tracks takes her somewhere new. April’s “Shook” set her tongue-twisting raps against Neptunes-type production and a New Orleans bounce breakdown. With “Don’t Call Again,” Maidza shines as a singer, laying down her hook over a fried-out vintage funk groove. The video, filmed remotely and co-directed by Maidza, is a whirling psychedelic collage inspired by ’70s movies and splashy Emilio Pucci prints. Getting the last word never looked so good.