I imagine that those who are still pining for the day Kossisko returns as West Coast pimp rapper 100s saw the way they announced their non-binary identity was, at best, a shock. With only two mixtapes—2012’s Ice Cold Perm and 2014’s IVRY—Kossisko captured ears as 100s through Bay Area G-Funk revival. At the end of the latter’s music video, they suddenly announced that the 100s project would be put to rest. “To the 100s fans, I appreciate each and every one of you, but it’s now time for me to continue my journey. So, this is goodbye,” they shared. Around 2014 came Kossisko, the singer whose music touched upon the Gothic end of the alternative R&B boom that was happening around that time.
From Red White N Cruel to World of Trouble, projects were created from the point of view of a person who was living a successful life as a model and singer, but was also a severely depressed, lovesick philanderer. You can imagine the darkness that erupted from such albums came from having to hold back embracing their full self. And so, the bomb had to be dropped.
While wearing a lime green silky gown, white house coat, chest bearing a few tattoos, and doing a mix of 90s dance and light twerks with the enthusiasm of the brightest star in the room, the recently-revealed non-binary singer Kossisko comes close to the camera and softly announces “Presave link in bio.” The dream of the pimp with the Ice Cold Perm coming back to life was dissolved to bits. Ask Kossisko themselves, and they’ll likely say it was a long time coming.
In fact, Kossisko discusses it on SLAYERZ BALL’s light disco track, “Finally Free.” “They said I was a weirdo when I started back from zero,” Kossisko reminisces. How do they feel about it now? “Now I’m not afraid to love me and nobody can judge me.” Despite “Slay” being the first single signaling their emancipation from people’s expectations of them, “Finally Free” could be a dissertation of SLAYERZ BALL, an album-long celebration of their coming out and full embrace of their freedom.
Speaking of the more explosive “Slay,” the first single and the album’s opener was a strong indication of their new lease on life, especially since with the song, Kossisko briefly discussed their brush with death, a story also discussed at length on Instagram. In 2022, they suffered some bleeding in the brain with some seizures and managed to survive it long enough to embrace themselves. Now the next time that Kossisko has to face their mortality, they have specific instructions for the morticians delivered with a light tone: “When I die, bury me face down, so the world can kiss my ass.”
You will notice that this album is the first not to have a pitch-black cloud looming over it. The music is pure sunshine and the glitter on your clothes will be a makeshift disco ball. SLAZYERZ BALL is a spirited throwback to the days of 70s psychedelic soul, disco, funk, and pop. This isn’t to say Kossisko doesn’t cover uncomfortable topics from time to time, but those moments are few and far between. A prominent example is “Backtrack,” a song about trying to escape a toxic relationship without falling back into old habits. Outside of that, it is all pleasure, all the time.
The intent for sex as a topic is to be seen as fun and enjoyable, and not just physical, but spiritual, emotional. Whereas on past albums (2019’s Low and 2022’s World of Trouble), sex was used as a stimulant to fight off a deep depression, on SLAYERZ BALL, sex is a positive, even playful bond. “Talk to Me” is one of the album’s most infectious four-on-the-floor tracks about all-night sex, and one of the few to bear hilariously charming lines such as “that ass got some sass, and it’s always talking back.” “Serotonin,” however, takes things to a slow and romantic crawl. Other songs about sex highlight Kossiko’s preferences going as far as being open about an interest in swinging (the new wave-flavored “Love Goes Round”) and engaging with their “Scorpio rising” on the Prince-nod “Dirty Mind.”
SLAYERZ BALL is an album of liberation, truth, pleasure, and maybe even healing. Although past projects from Kossisko are revealed in darkness, SLAYERZ BALL brings a mirror ball and flashy clothes. Surely there will be detractors of the direction they go in next, but if their entire career has taught us anything, it’s that the last person you should expect a care from is Kossisko. Put this album on and prepare to start loving yourself!
