Seba Kaapstad Embody the Spirit of Collaboration on 'Konke'

The collective Seba Kaapstad embody the spirit of collaboration and experimentation; their latest release, Konke, takes its name from the Zulu word for "all." The multinational quartet — hailing from South Africa, Eswatini, Germany and the U.S. — double down on jazz and soul while incorporating hip-hop and spats of minimal electronic. It's a culture collision that allows for a unique musical narrative pulled from various experiences and sounds.

Konke continues where the group's last release, Thina, left off. Opener "Our People," featuring producer and beatmaker Quelle Chris, is soulful alt-hip-hop that sounds fresh while feeling entirely familiar. Lo-fi haze, bouncy synth and a lazy beat fuel the instrumental "Cloud," with a crispness replacing the crackle as it bleeds nicely into "You Better." Single "I'm Scared" broaches the vulnerability of letting the things we fear the most surface; its melancholic keys and minor scale a setup for rapper-producer Oddisee to step into.

Konke is a clear example of the diversity and range an album can find when cultures connect to create something meaningful. (Mello Music Group)

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