K.Keed and Orish collaborate on “Zalisa,” another well-crafted track off their Umgaranto II album.
The word “Zalisa” in isiXhosa means fulfillment or satisfaction. The choice of term tells you a lot about where K.Keed and Orish are mentally on this project. Umgaranto II, they said, was more deliberate than the first. “Zalisa” is a music that is that energy to the T.
The creation highlights Orish’s cinematic sensibilities. Instead of giving her a beat to rap over, he develops settings around K.Keed’s pen. That approach has been the tone of Umgaranto II from start to finish.
K. Keed delivers her typical focused delivery. She doesn’t waste syllables. She doesn’t over-explain her point. Every line has a place in the verse which is harder to do than most rappers make it look.
K.Keed and Orish continue to show that the Umgaranto series is more than just music dropping. It’s about capturing a moment, a place and a feeling from Gugulethu. “Zalisa” adds another page to the story, without rehashing what has been said elsewhere on the CD.
The record is well suited to Umgaranto II’s emotional arc. It doesn’t try to stand out. It just performs what it has to do and leaves you with the emotion after it’s over.
Discussion