Small Town rap duo K.Keed and Orish welcome Barblee to the mix on “Professor”, one of the most anticipated tracks off their Umgaranto II album.
The fact that Barblee’s name appears on a K.Keed & Orish record already speaks for something. So “Professor” walks in with that sort of earned credibility before the first bar even plays.
The term has got the old school township slang feel to it. In kasi culture, when someone is called a “professor,” it generally signifies they are a step ahead of everyone else in the room. That framing lends the record its individuality from the beginning.
Orish directs the project with his customary cinematic instinct. The same balance that has made Umgaranto II a more refined, more deliberate effort than its predecessor. The music is nevertheless restrained, so all the voices are given room to convey their point correctly.
K.Keed arrives with her razor-sharp lyrical precision, hitting her lines with the kind of focus that’s been ever-present across the record. Barblee offers a new dimension that alters the energy but doesn’t disrupt the momentum of the record. The three of them together make the music feel like a conversation between people who truly have something to say.
“Professor” is simply another reminder of why Umgaranto II is worth your undivided attention – have you streamed the album yet? Leave your opinions in the comments section below!
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