Stanisland Magazine

Hip-hop fusion blends jazz and folk elements for a surreal experience.

Confucius MC (real name William Carabine-Glean) and Bastien Keb are in full swing for their upcoming collaborative release, Songs For Lost Travellers. To further raise anticipation, they today release another single, Toulouse.

This latest drop sees the multi-instrumentalist/rapper team craft narratives that transport us to a vestibule of chill hip-hop and avant-garde music. Signed to Native Rebel Recordings, the duo have impressed their sound upon the label, led by Shabaka Hutchings – powerful testimonial to their talent.

Folk Music Blends with Jazz and Hip-Hop

Balancing folky vibes alongside Confucius MC’s introspective lyrical escapades, rich with vernacularly emotive language, he waxes lyrical on the existential elements of life.

READ MORE: Larry June and The Alchemist Drop ‘Bad Choices’

Keb platforms his dispatches through the ejection of bird-like woodwind sounds akin to a warning call, and it’s his talent that builds a world of sensory illusion. Despite being aligned with their last two drops, Toulouse shows us that the forthcoming album can subvert expectations.

Like past releases, the score is often laced with fey-like melodies that enhance the listening experience. A pleasant and absorbing work, this enchanting theme is stylistically juxtaposed against the UK rapper’s skillset for wordplay and descriptive language, resulting in a unique experience.

Verdict

Sonically, their synergy is a proven force demanding attention. Through a call-and-response performance, they reenergise the genre with one of the few ways to reinvent the rap scene.

Interlacing poetic substance with jazz and folk, the two offer the scene an alternative in a time when projects can be published on a whim. A return to the roots of mindfully crafted music seems imminent if their contemporaries can match them.

Where to Stream and Buy

You can stream Toulouse including the duo’s extensive catalogue on Spotify and Apple Music. You can also pre-order their forthcoming album.