Photo credit: Neil Watson
Hot off the release of “FALLBACK (feat. Runkus)”, which Billboard named one of their Reggae/Dancehall Fresh Picks of the Month, Canadian-Jamaican artist King Cruff is back with another fresh collaboration. Released today via Tuff Gong Collective/Universal Music Canada, “LINGO”, featuring Nigerian-Canadian artist Solo YT, pairs pulsing Afrobeat and dancehall rhythms with candid lyrics about a relationship floating in toxic waters.
“Solo YT is a very close friend of mine and when we get on a track, our ideas just meld together,” shares King Cruff. “I always enjoy making music that has an unexpected edge to it. If there’s conflict or contrast in the track, even better. I love it when you hear a sound or lyric after multiple listens that surprises you and lets you look at it with a whole new perspective.”
The visualizer for “LINGO” is the third of King Cruff’s visuals to be filmed in his native Jamaica, following the official music videos for “FALLBACK” and “SHEDOENEED”.
King Cruff’s unique amalgam of genres is the core of his artistry and has been evident throughout his singles: “FALLBACK” featuring Runkus fuses reggae and dancehall, “SHEDOENEED” featuring Stonebwoy and Jag.Huligin combines Afrobeats, dancehall, R&B and pop, while his Top 40 radio hit “Soufflé” and his major label debut “Samurai Chop” blend hip-hop with Caribbean flavoured rhythms that showcase his intricate, rapid bars.
This month, King Cruff has brought his dynamic live performance to stages in Jamaica alongside Buju Banton, Damian Marley, Stephen Marley, Skratch Bastid, Runkus, Julian Marley, YG Marley, and Lauryn Hill, and wrapped tour dates with Canadian hip-hop artist DillanPonders.
About King Cruff:
Canadian-Jamaican artist King Cruff (Solomon Marley-Spence) was born with the talents of songwriting and performance in his blood. An introspective storyteller, he sees his songs as think pieces set to ‘punky’ rhythms. Drawing on his audio engineering background, the versatile King Cruff fuses genres across the diaspora including hip-hop, Afrobeats, dancehall and reggae.
While reggae royalty is in his blood, King Cruff’s rapid flow and patois-laced lyrical style reveals the influence hip-hop lyricists such as Andre 3000 and Kendrick Lamar have had on him choosing to carve his own path as an MC. The 26-year-old artist is a natural-born performer who has spent the past year on stages in Canada, the US, and Jamaica for cultural events like Toronto’s Caribana, Afro Carib Fest, School Night, Bastid’s BBQ Toronto, the Tuff Gong Takeover in New York alongside Skip Marley, and at both the LA and Toronto opening nights of the Bob Marley One Love Experience.
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