Every relationship has that moment when the “what are we?” conversation should happen. New York artist Kai King’s latest single, “RiiiDE,” is about deciding not to have it, at least not yet. The song captures the stage where two people are enjoying each other and choose to take it slow, and its answer to all the overthinking is simple: stop talking, and enjoy the ride.
It’s a small, relatable moment, and that’s what gives the song its charm. It isn’t a heartbreak anthem or a confession. It’s a snapshot of the in-between, when keeping things undefined feels like the more fun option, which makes the title a perfect fit.
Pop, R&B and Hip-Hop, Without the Borders
Kai King is a queer artist, singer, songwriter and DJ based in New York City, building a world somewhere between pop, R&B and hip-hop. Their music blends genres freely and pairs that with honest, emotionally charged storytelling about identity, desire and self-discovery. “RiiiDE” leans into the dream pop and indie pop side of that world, and it shows how much personality can fit in a track that’s meant to feel easy.
That’s by design. “It’s just a fun carefree feel good song,” Kai says, “and I hope people can jam to it in the car or on their commutes and it will make them smile!”
From One Chord to a Brooklyn Producer
The creation story is as low-key as the song itself. It started with a single chord progression on Kai’s guitar. From there, Kai took it into Logic Pro, recorded the guitar and vocals, and added a few other elements. Something still felt missing, so the song went to a recently discovered Brooklyn producer, waytoofresco, to give it the extra push. “And that’s the story of its creation!”
It’s a good reminder that a song doesn’t need a complicated origin to land. Sometimes one chord, a few instincts and the right collaborator are enough.
Listen to “RiiiDE” on SoundCloud and follow Kai King on Instagram.
