Bay-area MC Profhit teamed up with NYC producer Buddy Drama to create their new single, “Karnage.” The song draws inspiration from rock and hip-hop collaborations like Linkin Park and Jay-Z’s “Numb/Encore” to fuse the two genres together in this epic blend.
The California rapper is no stranger to taking risks with his music, so it’s only fitting that he was the rapper used for an unusual and theatric track like “Karnage.” Beginning his music career at the age of four with a pair of drumsticks, the drummer turned songwriter, composer, producer, and rapper understands every part of the creative process and the importance of a strong relationship between the words and the beat. That dynamic shines through in “Karnage,” where Profhit and Buddy Drama work with one another to effortlessly fill the gaps with lyrical raps or heavy metal drums. Although the collaboration may seem obscure, it still feels right.
The song begins with theatrical guitars and electronic elements, creating a large production in one 4-minute song. Profhit’s flow instantly reminds me of Lupe Fiasco, and for some reason, that makes this bold collaboration even more exciting. The backing instruments don’t overwhelm Profhit’s lyrics, but instead boost them on a podium, adding intensity to every word he spits to emphasize the idea that it’s “a primal thing.”
It is quite interesting to see how the heavy metal production works with the animalistic diction to build the song up, heightening Profhit’s credibility as a rapper because of his ability to rap over a track like this. I would love to hear a whole saga featuring the two artists collaborating to create an epic of sorts, with a storyline with an intense conflict and resolution.
“With Karnage we were going for a cinematic feel, so the idea was to compose the track with an orchestral style. I mixed in elements that you wouldn’t typically hear in an orchestra, like synthesizers and tribal drums and choral layers. We wanted a rock feel to it so the the layers of heavy metal guitar really created an anchor and provided the foundation for all of the fun counterpoint melodies that swirl around to create a sort of hip hop rock opera feel.”
“With Karnage we were going for a cinematic feel, so the idea was to compose the track with an orchestral style. I mixed in elements that you wouldn’t typically hear in an orchestra, like synthesizers and tribal drums and choral layers. We wanted a rock feel to it so the the layers of heavy metal guitar really created an anchor and provided the foundation for all of the fun counterpoint melodies that swirl around to create a sort of hip hop rock opera feel.”
Buddy Drama
If you dig this track and want to keep up with what Profhit and Buddy Drama have in the works, you can check out their socials below!:
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