Grammy-winning producer Dahi launches solo album with dual-screen video strategy
The Inglewood beatmaker is transitioning from behind-the-scenes hitmaking to a lead artistic role, using novel digital engagement tactics to differentiate his work in a saturated music market.
Grammy-winning producer Dahi has released his debut solo album, Black Boy (Alternative), accompanied by an innovative dual-screen music video for the track "How to Pray" featuring Kendrick Lamar and Amber Mark. The 11-track record marks a strategic shift for the Inglewood beatmaker, who is transitioning from behind-the-scenes hitmaking to a lead artistic role.
The accompanying video for "How to Pray" splits the visual experience into two vertical halves. These are designed to be played simultaneously on separate mobile devices, a format intended to transform a typically solitary digital viewing experience into a shared, interactive one.
Placing the devices side-by-side completes the picture, revealing how the different narrative perspectives inform one another. Dahi previously deployed this split-screen rollout in July for the album track "Find Me," featuring Moses Sumney and Mez. That strategy leveraged social media fragmentation by posting one half on his main Instagram profile and the other on a dedicated page for the "missing half."
For the broader music market, this release illustrates how established producers are deploying novel digital engagement tactics to differentiate solo ventures in a saturated industry. Dahi possesses a formidable commercial resume, having famously produced Kendrick Lamar’s "Money Trees" and contributed to major albums like DAMN. and Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, as well as hits for Drake, SZA, 21 Savage, and Travis Scott.
Transitioning to the lead role allows him to explore new thematic ground. He has described the project as a letter to his younger self, exploring the freedom to define Black identity on his own terms. The record pulls together the hip-hop and R&B of his upbringing with alternative and rock music.
The album draws from a wide range of influences, including nineties rock, West African soul, and experimental hip-hop. Beyond Lamar and Mark, the project features an extensive roster of collaborators, including Childish Gambino, Vince Staples, Channel Tres, Obongjayar, and Baby Rose.
The tracklist further demonstrates this collaborative approach, opening with "Who Are You" featuring Vince Staples, Channel Tres, and French Anthony. Other notable inclusions are "Running" with Childish Gambino and "Drowning" featuring Elmiene and Ravyn Lenae.
By emphasizing human connection through its dual-screen format, the project offers a case study in active audience participation. It challenges the standard, passive consumption of music videos in an increasingly fragmented digital media landscape.
