Those who know about Kiddo Dust were likely sucked in by his 2022 single “All Good”, a hazy rap tune fortified by nostalgic samples and to-the-point bars. Listeners must have been confused by the then-teenager’s abrupt pivot, diving headfirst into a more pop-infused pallet. This potential strategic blunder definitely stifled the up-and-comer’s growth. However, I’m here to say, Kiddo is back.

Dust’s latest release, “champagne dreams”, is a return to everything I loved about “All Good”; ebbing soundscapes, matter of fact bars, and sentiments grounded in the reality of a twenty-something year old with lofty aspirations. On the track, the twenty one year old confesses that “everything ain’t ever really going how it seems”, along with his dreams of popping bottles and living the rockstar lifestyle that “All Good” seemed to promise. The highlight of “champagne dreams” is Kiddo’s vocal mix, which is vivid and exists in the forefront of the rather simple production. He has a knack for phonetics, leveraging glitchy repetitions to fill the empty space and simple, memorable hooks, to provide familiarity. To conclude, Kiddo’s latest feels like an encouraging step in the right direction – keep it coming, Kiddo!