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There’s a certain kind of artist who doesn’t just step into a scene, he challenges it, questions it, and dares it to grow. Kandalit, who is from The Gambia, does just that with his new single "Reigning Fire," which is full of energy.
With a song that feels less like a release and more like a reckoning. "Reigning Fire" paints a vivid picture of a still-new music scene. There aren't any solid industry structures yet, so there is a lot of amateur art and so-called stakeholders who aren't doing their jobs well. These conditions aren't just annoying for a Kandalit emcee, they give him energy.
The production has a heavy, scary quality that combines aggression with strange vocal textures, drawing you into his world right away. This place feels planned and controlled. Kandalit doesn't waste time getting people used to the beat, he grabs it and controls it. His delivery is sharp, focused, and never-ending, whether he's slicing through tight pockets on the beat or letting loose longer, pounding verses.
Not only is "Reigning Fire" intense, but the conviction behind it makes it interesting. You can sense the need. The need for food. The refusal to accept mediocrity in a space that hasn't yet built the foundations that artists like him deserve. It's both a criticism and a statement. Kandalit is a great emcee because he makes any beat sound better. "Reigning Fire" doesn't just shine a light on the growing Gambian hip-hop scene, it also tells it to rise to meet him. And this single shows that Kandalit isn't going to wait for the industry to catch up. He is already ahead, putting out the fire.