Kenyan rap stalwart King Kerby will release the fifth music video off his third studio album dubbed ‘Saba’ with the visual for “Summertime” set to debut this Friday.
Featuring Jozi-based artists Ta’Eish and O’Hara, the music video is directed, shot, edited and colored by frequent King Kerby collaborator Ry Guy SA.Shot between Nairobi and Johannesburg, the record is a sonic masterpiece blending Hip Hop, R&B and Trap Music with production heralded by Zino D and LD Beats, both hailing from South Africa and popularly known for their work on Nasty C’s latest full-length opus ‘I Love It Here’.
“Summertime for me is simply an ode to my lover. We weren’t in the best space as a couple but we have built our relationship on strong values such as honesty. The song gave me a chance to speak from a place of vulnerability and openness, and to share that means that as men we can also be more confident in ourselves and our feelings” King Kerby shares.
“Summertime” is a record that acknowledges King Kerby’s busy schedule that is becoming a factor between him and his partner. The record acknowledges that between space and time, there is ample room for love to exist no matter the circumstances if two people are willing to make it work.
Kerby opts for a velvety delivery on the chorus belting out a croony chorus to a love interest, before embarking on a bouncy 808-driven verse where he floats with a bassy and raspy vocal tone. “Uko wapi mami? Baby, sema nami. It’s been hard to find us, we’ve been getting money” Kerby starts his enthralling verse conceding to searching for a balance between his purpose and his love life. Sonically, Zino and LD accentuate some riff guitars to add a sweetener texture to the song easing the trunk-heavy drums that lend the record a grotesque and distinct feel into the urban sound that has characterized King Kerby’s genre-defying urban soundscape.
“I enjoy music that has a certain warmth, bounce and feel to it. Whether it’s Smino, SiR, Ragz Originale, Santi, Monte Booker, these are artists whose production usually inspires my sound a lot. It’s very Altè and kind to the ear and soul” Kerby mentions.
Fast rising Jo’Burg based riser O’Hara who has been a revelation throughout King Kerby’s studio album ‘Saba’ makes a brief cameo with a verse and bite-sized offering. Her angelic presence, vocal performance and vignette adds some depth to the record before Ta’Eish’s almost-mumble like flows transcend the record into a new stratosphere. Each recognize their own journey to self-improvement before they meet their lovers, with Ta’Eish’s acrobatic flows nodding to this “Ive been working on myself, no pencil can erase” among other glistening one-liners.
“It’s all about growth. Working with Kerby has been amazing because we met through the producers’ recommendation that we would sound amazing together. And rightfully so, “Summertime” is one of the tracks we have cut together and to see it come alive visually even though we weren’t able to physically be together is a story of determination and commitment” Ta’Eish says.
“Summertime visuals are available on YouTube and the record is on every digital streaming platform.
