SAMA-nominated South African rapper and record producer Lehlohonolo “25K” Molefe has just fired his first flare in the shape of a single to herald the advent of his forthcoming sophomore studio album. Titled “Something Special”, the Pretoria-born wordsmith is not a lone ranger on his latest outing; he is assisted by STAYLOW star and kasi narrator Marcus Harvey and the harmonic melodies of warbler Lucille Slade, who help him outline the tug-of-war between living for ambition and for love.
The three-minute-and-forty-four-second joint is a hip-hop song with spartan production consisting of organic drums, snares, and a staccato tempo, which mingle to form a bare atmosphere conducive to 25K’s sincere approach in spitting a heartfelt and assurance-riddled apology to his lover.
“Something Special” Single Cover | SUPPLIED
The Harvey-Slade combo serves mostly as a soul-sustaining support system to 25K’s message, which is mostly delivered in his signature half-fluid, half-staggered cadence tempered with well-timed stops and starts to synchronise with the beat’s pockets of rhythm. Where the rapper’s strong suit is verbal expression, his guests back him up by transplanting heart into his otherwise emotionally uncharged performance.
“Something Special” addresses the “Hustler’s Prayer” hitmaker’s conflict in trying to strike a mutualistic balance between measuring the worth of fulfilling his dreams and maintaining his love life.
25K | SUPPLIED
Predicated on contrasting lyrics such as, “Askies, I know everything is all about me” and “Hurts when you tell me, ‘Kilo, what about me?'” 25K portrays the tragic thematic collision of both his loves jostling for his attention and affection. He further leverages this interpersonal wrestling match by highlighting it with graphic imagery of death caused by dropping one’s guard. This slick piece of street literature can be visualised when he juxtaposes the act of him closing his eyes when they first kissed with the fear of getting killed. All this trouble because he still harbours the unhealthy fear of getting killed since people who closed their eyes too long got murdered where he came from.
Yet, even in the power struggle for 25K’s heart, the rapper reassures his concerned lover regarding his commitment to their relationship (“You can have a baby by me”) while reminding her why his dreams are important (“I’ve been trapping since 2014 / You don’t have to choose sides, play for my team”).
As 25K gradually teases his followers with what’s to come, “Something Special” is a curtain-raising act that presents the inimitable lyricist as an emotional being ready to unzip himself. His vulnerability doesn’t douse the fire of his pen, if anything, it shows another aspect of its lethality.
Listen to “Something Special”:
