Tyrant
Kali Uchis & Jorja Smith * Track #6 On Isolation
Download "Tyrant"
Album Isolation
- #1
Body Language (Intro)Kali Uchis
- #2Miami
Kali Uchis & BIA
- #3
Just a StrangerKali Uchis & Steve Lacy
- #4Flight 22
Kali Uchis
- #5Your Teeth In My Neck
Kali Uchis
- #6Tyrant
Kali Uchis & Jorja Smith
- #7Dead to Me
Kali Uchis
- #8
Nuestro PlanetaKali Uchis & Reykon
- #9In My Dreams
Kali Uchis & Damon Albarn
- #10Gotta Get Up (Interlude)
Kali Uchis
- #11Tomorrow
Kali Uchis
- #12Coming Home (Interlude)
Kali Uchis
- #13
After the StormKali Uchis & Tyler, The Creator & Bootsy Collins
- #14Feel Like a Fool
Kali Uchis
- #15Killer
Kali Uchis
Tyrant by Kali Uchis (Ft. Jorja Smith)
Release Date
Performed by
Kali UchisJorja SmithProduced by
Rance & Jairus ‘J-Mo’ Mozee & SounwaveAbout
“Tyrant” was the first single off Kali Uchis' debut album, Isolation. The song, which features Jorja Smith, is her first solo work since 2016’s “Only Girl.”
The track debuted on May 23, 2017 on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1.
Tyrant Lyrics
[Intro: Kali Uchis]
Baby dímelo
Dímelo, dímelo, dímelo
[Verse 1: Kali Uchis]
All I hear is sirens
In a world so violent
Would you be a tyrant
If I gave you power
Would you take it out
Look me in my iris
I can read your silence
When everything is a riot
You're my peace and quiet
[Chorus: Kali Uchis]
All around we go
Your lovin' is like a kaleidoscope
I don't wanna come down
Keep spinnin' me 'round and 'round
And 'round and 'round and 'round
Wanna seize the throne
But what would you do with all that control
I don't wanna come down
Keep spinnin' me 'round and 'round
And 'round and 'round and 'round
[Verse 2: Kali Uchis]
Word on the street, you got hoes
I disappear like El Chapo
'Til you said you would cut off the whole world
If little old me would be yours
Well Mira, mira, míralo (míralo, míralo)
Papi está rico, papi está guapo (papi está guapo)
The world's been asking us to lose control
All we ever do is French like Brigitte Bardot (Brigitte Bardot)
[Chorus: Kali Uchis]
All around we go (all around, all around)
Your lovin' is like a kaleidoscope
I don't wanna come down
Keep spinnin' me 'round and 'round
And 'round and 'round and 'round (around, around, around)
Wanna seize the throne (I know you wanna, I know you wanna)
But what would you do with all that control
I don't wanna come down
Keep spinnin' me 'round and 'round
And 'round and 'round and 'round (around, around, around)
[Bridge: Kali Uchis]
Baby dímelo
Dímelo, dímelo, dímelo
[Verse 3: Jorja Smith]
Boy, you're driving me crazy
Although I say nothing can faze me
Place the spark in my life back
Now I want to show you how I thank that
Don't think you can lie
I can see through your mind
Don't lose this
We have it all, all
[Chorus: Kali Uchis]
All around we go (all around, all around)
Your lovin' is like a kaleidoscope
I don't wanna come down
Keep spinnin' me 'round and 'round
And 'round and 'round and 'round (around, around, around)
Wanna seize the throne (I know you wanna, I know you wanna)
But what would you do with all that control
I don't wanna come down
Keep spinnin' me 'round and 'round
And 'round and 'round and 'round (around, around, around)
[Outro: Kali Uchis]
We're goin' 'round and around and around, goin' down, down
We're goin' 'round and around and around, goin' down, down
Tyrant Q&A
Who wrote Tyrant's ?
Tyrant was written by Kali Uchis & Jorja Smith & Rance & Jairus ‘J-Mo’ Mozee & Sounwave.
Who produced Tyrant's ?
Tyrant was produced by Rance & Jairus ‘J-Mo’ Mozee & Sounwave.
When did Kali Uchis release Tyrant?
Kali Uchis released Tyrant on Mon May 22 2017.
What did Kali Uchis say about "Tyrant"?
A post apocalyptic love song. Wanting to stay in the haze of puppy love forever and never face the power struggles, because that’s your only real escape from the cold realities of life.
– Kali Uchis, press release of the song
How did the song come together?
I was in the studio with Sounwave, and we were just going through a whole bunch of different song ideas that we had, potentially for the album. When he played that one, it just came into my head. And then, I used some lyrics from a really old song of mine that I never released. Like, the first two l...
Why did Kali call the song "Tyrant?"
I felt like that was the strongest word and the best personification of the entire song, basically. And I think more importantly than just using words in the hook that feel catchy, I think it’s cooler to have a word that’s more standout, that happens to be in the lyrics. That’s important to me when...
How did Kali link up with the producers?
I was just working with Sounwave, and I guess people had already produced on that particular instrumental, prior. I found out about that later.
Ireally wanted to work with Sounwave, and I know he’s like really particular about who he works with, so I was really excited when he said he wanted to wor...
How did Jorja Smith wind up on this track?
I had actually never even met her before. I just sent her the song and then, she sent me the verse back and I was like, “This is amazing.” And then, I was kind of worried, because I usually don’t work with people that I’ve never met before. I usually have to connect with you as a person before I’m g...
What has the media said about the song?
In 2018, NPR ranked this as the #122 greatest song by a female or nonbinary artist in the 21st century, saying:
Kali Uchis, the Colombian-American singer born Karly-Marina Loaiza, grew up marginally homeless in the Virginia suburbs, often resorting to spending nights in her car; ‘Tyrant’ makes it c...