You might remember Zulo under his previous moniker Lil Trix. While 2020 did a lot of things, it also triggered what I can only imagine to be a bit of an identity crisis after his genre-bending 2019 EP Don’t Take Me For A P! – and now here he is, renamed, revamped and dropping one of the hottest hip-hop tracks of the year.
Not a bad turnaround at all – and one which was illustrated in a spicy teaser video which outlined the switcheroo in lieu of his 14 years on the scene.
“Portals” serves as the lead single off Zulo’s upcoming EP Talk To Me Naas, and flexes every last bit of contemporary, forward-thinking hip-hop zeal the genre has on offer. Think driving 808s, a rubbery bottomline beat, the nagging squeak of a cupboard door which prevails (surprisingly enjoyably) throughout. A sample lifted off Miriam Makeba’s “Cameroon” even works its way into the mix, as ZULO drops slick bars over it all.
He also wastes no time in bringing a few of the best on board to ramp up the track a bit. ByLwansta contributes some crooning backing vocals, ItsDumi drops an acoustic guitar snippet, while the triumphant outro (which whiffs pleasantly of Locnville influence) is courtesy of PATFROMTHESLUMS. And voila, “Portals” is a punchy hip hop return which positions Zulo comfortably apart from the crowd.
