It's ironic that a candle commercial helped put Kevin Ross on the map, because his glow up since then has been pretty amazing. This year in particular has seen his star skyrocket to the top thanks to a No. 1 single, the March release of his full-length debut The Awakening and the successful run of his first headlining tour – all capped off with Soul Train and NAACP "new artist" nominations. We're still not sure how he managed to squeeze in time to record and release his third EP Drive in the midst of this whirlwind, but our ears are forever grateful.
One of our favorite tracks in the six-song collection is his cover of Andre 3000's modern-day classic "Prototype." It's been almost 15 years, yet the song still gives us all the feels and Mr. Ross delivers a swoon-worthy update with his buttery smooth vocals. When we heard that he released a video treatment for the ballad, we assumed it would be something sweet and romantic, akin to the original. But after viewing the short film, it's safe to say the warm fuzzies have been temporarily replaced with the heebie jeebies.
Kevin took to social media to thank director Marc Diamond for "making my dark twisted vision for this song come to life" and now we get to see why. He plays a crime scene photographer who discovers that the victim of a beautiful woman's homicidal rage is none other than himself. We'll let you decide whether he's having an out-of-body experience or if there's some weird science at play. Either way, if he's looking to shake things up and shed his wholesome image, he's heading in the right direction.
It'll be interesting to see where Kevin Ross goes from here. In the meantime, peep the "Prototype" visuals below (bonus points if you can spot the Prince reference) and let us know what you think of the tragic love story. If you haven't already gotten a copy of Drive, go ahead and treat yourself for the holidays. Afterwards, visit the NAACP Image Awards site to gift Kevin with your vote for Outstanding New Artist.
