‘On this sunny Friday in August, the West Coast just got a little warmer and a lot smoother with the release of California Player, the new album from ROC Nation’s rising star, Kalan.FrFr.
Hailing from Carson, California, Kalan.FrFr has carved out his own lane in the rap game, mixing authenticity, melody, and a relentless work ethic to create music that speaks directly to the lives of everyday people. Whether you caught his early hits like Scoring on NBA broadcasts or vibed out to the YG-assisted Right Wit It in your favorite club, Kalan has always been for the culture.
With California Player, a 15-track album packed with swagger and sincerity, he’s doubling down on his roots and raising the bar.
“This project is for life livers,” Kalan shared in his interview with The Quintessential Gentleman earlier this week. “You got something for the heartbreaks. You got something for the good times. You got something that you can ride in the car to. You got something for the thugs. You got something for the geeks. Everything.”
Kalan revealed that California Player wasn’t even the original version of the album. He had a different project fully recorded, but during a late-night drive, he realized it wasn’t hitting the way he wanted.
“We was driving, and I’m just like, ‘Man, this ain’t it.’ The next morning, I locked off the studio for three weeks and started over. We finished in a week and a half. That’s when I knew, this was what it’s supposed to be.”
From the moment I hit play on the album, two tracks stood out for me, Don’t Trip and Baby Gurl. The former? An instant repeat. The latter? Smooth, infectious, and pure West Coast flirtation. But when I asked Kalan to choose his favorites, he laughed.
“Once you press play, it ain’t no telling,” he said. “Everybody’s favorite song switches. It’s like seasons. Every song going there. It’s kind of like one of my kids—I can’t pick between them.”
Still, California Player is more than just bangers and beats; it’s a reintroduction to the meaning of being a “player.”
“People think a player is just someone with a lot of girls,” he explained. “But the way you dress could be player. The car you drive could be player. Being cool while being outside the box—that’s player. Opening the door for your girl? That’s player too.”
Before the stage lights and sold-out shows, Kalan was suiting up as a scholarship football player at San Diego State University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in social science, focusing on developmental support for kids and adults with disabilities, a passion that continues to shape his philanthropic work today.
“You can’t be in college and waste your time,” he said, crediting his mom for keeping him focused. “I ended up leaning towards the field of helping people with disabilities and development for children and adults.” When he started his TwoFr Day Foundation, it began as a block party, and he donated all the extra proceeds to a special needs program.
What sets Kalan apart is his unwavering connection to the people. Even as he performs alongside Kendrick Lamar at the Juneteenth Pop Out concert or headlines at YouTube Theatre this fall, he remains deeply rooted in his community.
His fifth annual TwoFr Day takes place this weekend, providing food, school supplies, and entertainment for over 1,500 attendees in Compton.
“I’m a product of my environment,” he said. “If your people in your backyard don’t support you, then nobody gonna support you… You gotta give to get out here.”
And give, he does.
Kalan isn’t slowing down. He teased that he’ll be dropping another project before the end of the year. For now, though, California Player is here to ride out the summer and beyond.
“This project is timeless,” he said with conviction. “It’s one of my better projects. From the naming to the visuals to the music, it’s all about embracing who I am and where I come from.”
And if the early replay value of Don’t Trip is any indication, the rest of the world is ready to embrace it too.
Stream California Player wherever you listen to music—and run “Don’t Trip” and “Baby Gurl” back for me. Twice.
