Ain't No Damn Way!

Ain't No Damn Way!
Studio album by
Kaytranada
ReleasedAugust 15, 2025
Genre
Length35:25
LabelRCA
ProducerKaytranada
Kaytranada chronology
Timeless
(2024) 		Ain't No Damn Way!
(2025)
Singles from Ain't No Damn Way!
  1. "Backstabs"
    Released: April 2021
  2. "Space Invader"
    Released: August 12, 2025

Ain't No Damn Way! (stylized in all caps) is the fourth studio album by Canadian electronic music producer Kaytranada. The album was released on August 15, 2025, through RCA Records.[2][3]

The album was announced on August 11, with the first single, "Space Invader" arriving shortly thereafter on August 12. Inspired by a sample of Latrelle and Kelis "My Life" the single showcases a hypnotic, house-inflected groove and highlights Kaytranada's production style.[4]

Following his Grammy Awards nominated 2024 album Timeless, Ain't No Damn Way! marks Kaytranada's first full-length original release since then.[5] He has described the album as designed for "workouts, dancing and studying for people that love beats," underscoring its instrumental, beat-driven orientation.[6]

Simultaneously with the release, he announced a co-headlining North American tour with French electronic duo Justice set to begin on October 16 in Vancouver.[7]

Background and release

Kaytranada announced Ain't No Damn Way! on August 11, 2025, sharing its title and release timing via social media.[2] The lead single, "Space Invader" was released the following day.[3] "Backstabs" was previously released as a single in April 2021 by record club Vinyl Me, Please in collaboration with Pitchfork and Lexus.[8]

Artistic direction

In promotional comments, Kaytranada emphasized that the album is an intentional return to his dance-oriented roots, stating it is "strictly for workouts, dancing and studying and for people that love beats".[6]

Promotion and touring

Alongside the album release, Kaytranada announced a fall tour, co-headlined with Justice. The tour begins October 16 in Vancouver and includes stops in Seattle, Chicago, Brooklyn, Atlanta, Miami and more.[7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic78/100[9]
Review scores
SourceRating
Exclaim!8/10[10]
NME[11]
Pitchfork7.6/10[12]
Rolling Stone[13]

Ain't No Damn Way! received positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 78, based on 4 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[9]

NME's Kyann-Sian Williams gave the album four stars rating out of five and wrote, "Ain't No Damn Way! goes a long way in proving why Kaytranada remains the scene's most influential conductor, tightening and loosening the groove with tiny gestures: a clipped snare here, a sudden synth swell there. Without special guests this time around, he doubles down on what he does best: directing the dancefloor with precision, patience and pure instinct.[11] Andrew Ryce of Pitchfork wrote, "Every drum hits with purpose, the basslines walk and burrow every which way, samples and voices are embedded in strange but intuitive ways. It's a beat tape that works as pop music for a generation of fans who have been conditioned to view instrumental electronic music as worthy of their attention, too, thanks to prominent representatives like Celestin himself."[12]

Track listing

Ain't No Damn Way! track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Space Invader"
4:36
2."Championship"
1:58
3."Home"
2:16
4."Target Joint"Celestin2:25
5."Things"
3:14
6."Backstabs"Celestin3:23
7."Good Luck"
1:50
8."Shine Your Light for We"
3:14
9."Goodbye Bitch!"Celestin2:49
10."Don’t Worry Babe / I Got U Babe"
3:14
11."Blax"Celestin2:48
12."Do It (Again!)" (featuring TLC)
3:38
Total length:35:25

Notes

  • All tracks, with the exception of "Backstabs", are stylized in all caps.
  • "Backstabs" is stylized as "backstABS".
  • "Space Invader" contains a sample of "My Life", performed by Latrelle featuring Kelis.[14]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[15]

See also

Release history

Release dates and formats for Ain't No Damn Way!
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various August 15, 2025
RCA [16]

References

  1. ^ Paul, Bryson "Boom" (June 11, 2024). "KAYTRANADA Makes An International Return With "Ain't No Damn Way" Album". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Mamo, Heran (August 11, 2025). "Kaytranada Announces New Album 'Ain't No Damn Way!'". Billboard. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Matthew, Strauss (August 11, 2025). "Kaytranada Shares Song From Very Imminent New Album". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  4. ^ Jon, Powell (August 12, 2025). "Kaytranada Drops Space Invader From 'Ain't No Damn Way!' LP". Rap-Up. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  5. ^ Scott, Sterling (August 15, 2025). "Kaytranada Releases New Album "Ain't No Damn Way!"". Consequence. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Kaytranada Announces New Album, Shares Lead Single "Space Invader"". RTTNews. August 11, 2025. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Renshaw, David (August 12, 2025). "Kaytranada Announces "Ain't No Damn Way!" Album and Tour with Justice". The Fader. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  8. ^ "Announcing Driven by Sound Documentary With Madlib and Kaytranada". Pitchfork. February 9, 2021. Archived from the original on February 1, 2025.
  9. ^ a b "AIN'T NO DAMN WAY! by Kaytranada". Metacritic. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  10. ^ "Don't Call Kaytranada's 'Ain't No Damn Way!' a Comeback │ Exclaim!". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  11. ^ a b Williams, Kyann-Sian (August 15, 2025). "Kaytranada – 'Ain't No Damn Way!' review: commanding the dancefloor with instinct and precision". NME. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  12. ^ a b Ryce, Andrew. "Kaytranada: AIN'T NO DAMN WAY!". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  13. ^ Matos, Michaelangelo (August 16, 2025). "Kaytranada's 'Ain't No Damn Way' Is an Airy Amble Through Dance Music History". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 16, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  14. ^ Pappis, Konstantinos (August 12, 2025). "Kaytranada Announces New Album 'Ain't No Damn Way!', Shares New Single". Our Culture Mag. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  15. ^ "Ain't No Damn Way! / Kaytranada / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  16. ^ "AIN'T NO DAMN WAY! by KAYTRANADA on Apple Music". August 15, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
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