Score: 8.5 out of 10

It’s about time that k-os (pronounced “chaos”) began to garner some recognition in the United States. The Canadian artist of Trinidadian descent is a rapper, singer, songwriter and producer-extraordinaire all rolled into one fantastic package, and his latest work, the genre-mashing Atlantis: Hymns for Disco, is his finest effort yet.

Atlantis is k-os’s third release and debuted at number one in Canada. Like its predecessors, it received accolades galore in his homeland, but has gone relatively unnoticed in the States.

Atlantis album art. Picture courtesy of Astralwerks.

Those of us not fortunate enough to have heard him before are missing out. Few artists can move from genre to genre so effortlessly. Despite the fact that every track introduces a different and diverging style, k-os’s unyielding passion and striking talent to completely alter his sound make the transitions seamless.

From “ELEtrick HeaT – the seekwiLL,” which features k-os emceeing over a classic b-boy beat, to the reggae-infused pop/rock number “Mirror in the Sky,” k-os hits all the notes linking Naughty by Nature and The Police. For the nostalgic, “Born to Run” invokes a 1980s, new wave feeling. Best of all, he pulls it off in a convincing and pleasing fashion.

Going track-by-track through this album, it’s clear that it doesn’t belong in the hip-hop section of your preferred music outlet. Not one to be constrained by the normal bounds of music, k-os stretches the palette far and wide, encompassing the rock-and-roll styles of “Valhalla” all the way to “Aqua City Boy,” which sounds like it could be a Mos Def track.

Indeed, Atlantis features less rapping and more singing. For all those astonished by the diversity of his first solo album, 2002’s Exit, k-os pushes the envelope even more, incorporating a wider range of styles and lyrical dexterity than ever before.

Rapper k-os. Picture courtesy of Astralwerks.

K-os doesn’t possess great rapping skills, nor is he a magnificent singer, but everything comes together through his songwriting and production, both of which are impeccable on Atlantis.

While 2004’s Joyful Rebellion became repetitive and righteous in its unrelenting critique of hip-hop (which, by all means, was deserved), this latest release finds k-os turning the pen onto himself and digging deeper into his musical repertoire.

Behind him is the arrogance of his previous work. Look no further for evidence than the captivating first single “Sunday Morning.” Encompassing the album as a whole, it’s an uplifting tribute to all of the ability and love k-os brings to the table. The lyrics are introspective, and they spill from his mouth in the form of nimble shifts between conscious rap, soulful musings and atmospheric chorus vocals.

K-os is an acronym for “Knowledge of Self.” It’s a phrase that embodies the sense of Atlantis. For anyone who was familiar with his work before, it’s hard to believe that there was an artistic step left to take. But the development of one of the world’s most complete artists is one that must be regarded. With Atlantis, k-os displays a fresh perspective of life and its intricacies. Music fans of every kind should get their hands on this one.

To hear samples of Atlantis: Hymns for Disco, click here.