
“TKN” sounds a world away from the flamenco pop and quiet R&B of recent Rosalía singles “Juro Que” and “Dolerme,” swinging closer to her 2019 collaboration with J Balvin, “Con Altura.” Co-produced by Rosalía and Scott with frequent collaborator El Guincho and Puerto Rican reggaeton pioneer DJ Nelson, “TKN” is a vibrant cross-cultural exchange that makes use of urbano’s trap flavor and dembow pulse. Rosalía sounds like she’s at home and exudes swagger, but as partners go, Scott is no J Balvin. He’s not a comparable charmer, and his raps have less character, but he performs admirably here, flaunting the range of his voice and even dabbling in a little Spanish. The beat bottoms out and glitches, blurs in and out of focus, yet these changing textures and constant modifications keep it fresh; its groove remains inescapable. Both Rosalía and Travis Scott have come under fire for being culture vultures in the past, but they work through those characterizations in collaboration. By banding together on “TKN,” they prove that relying on new friends can be constructive.