A twinkling jazz-leaning piano intro punctuated with the words “You are now as responsible for your life as I am of mine” sets the tone for Long Live the Patriarchy?, the debut EP from hip hop duo The Nuance.
In what can only be described as a deeply introspective and sonically soulful offering, the rap duo takes a deep dive into what it means to be Xhosa men and their pursuit of self-acceptance.
The 7-track EP, which took four years to craft, sees the duo explore an array of different sounds and genres without truly committing to any single one. From the smooth jazz-leaning melodies of “Femme Fatale” and the laid-back lo-fi-esque feel of “16:52”, to the more beat-driven “Hubris”, The Nuance experiment with sound to create a sonically intriguing soundscape that both complements and provides the perfect platform for their vocals.
A confident yet largely unembellished style of vocal delivery lends a candidness to the lyrics, that enables the duo to deliver their message with a clear and infectious sincerity, while the addition of harmonious hooks adds a refreshingly melodic vocal element to each track. As far as debut EPs go Long Live the Patriarchy? manages to simultaneously well-crafted and unpolished in a way that only adds character.
Feature pic supplied by artist
