22. Single Review of foreplay. by King Kefa

Originally published August 2nd, 2024

About the Artist

Born out of Philadelphia and now residing and representing Atlanta, Georgia, King Kefa is one of the best kept secrets in music. A multitalented child prodigy, he started playing the drums at 2 years of age and the piano at 14. It was around this time he wrote his first song, and started composing and producing music. Inspired by his love for gospel music and gospel recording artists BJ Shores and James Frager, Kefa began write music and directing his church choir. 

In 2010, at the age of 20, Kefa became a recording artist, releasing his first mixtape. Since that time, he has released 5 albums, 12 mixtapes, and 3 EPs, with plans on releasing his 6th album in November. In 2018, he transitioned from the genre of gospel music and his recording has been focused on more secular music, drawing inspiration from the late and legendary artists Michael Jackson and Prince (they were kind of big deals) and Memphis-based recording artist, Justin Timberlake. 

Though Kefa has moved from gospel music, it still is an integral part of his music. As he continues his musical journey, collaborating with other artists and producers like Doc Hero, Live Wright, and more, he remains that young boy who would sit on his floor in front of the radio, listening to all of his favorite albums.

foreplay.

King Kefa’s most recent single, foreplay. released on July 26th, 2024. It has a runtime of two minutes and forty-three seconds. It is mostly rap, with a sampled accompaniment of gospel singers harmonizing a scale on repeat, a subtle 808 bass tone, and programmed drums and percussion to lay out the beat. It is a slow jam, heavily reliant upon the vocal performance.

Vocally, Kefa’s delivery is smooth and rhythmic; delivering a vibe that is almost derivative of R&B, though it’s spoken word. His voice is baritone and confident, as he presents a song that is first person conversation with a romantic interest. Kefa has a professional understanding of the execution of the song; he’s not derivative with wordplay, he doesn’t try to lyrically over saturate the song, and he characterizes the narration to make the listener feel as if they are listening to this conversation in realtime. 

Lyrics

King Kefa also shows a dynamic range of wordplay as a lyricist too. One thing I like about this song is he starts the song out sensually and passionately, almost as if he is giving assurances to the woman he is speaking too. “I ain’t never been the shy type when it comes to my feelings.” He uses analogies that express how unique his interest in this person is with lines like “I wonder if a passion like this ever ever reach the ceiling.”

He then uses a bar to literally transition from giving assurances to almost having been playfully coy as he sounds more assertive, confident, and raises the level of promiscuous implications in the song. “I keep it real you will never have another like me you ain’t fuck with the rest.” Then using the line “I’ll make sure I’ll pay the water bill for every time I make the water spill.” The switch was so subtle, it actually seemed to transition through a single line. This was executed in a way that shows the writer is skilled and experienced with word play

He further demonstrates this skill towards the end of the song when he teases a more rhythmically dynamic line that sort of picks up the pace towards the end of the verse with, “anticipation manifest imagination cuz you know I got a great mind” then slows it right back down to close out with his soft playfulness he uses to beckon his romantic interest.

Final Thoughts

King Kefa has given his listeners a song that is boastfully talented and boastfully romantic. Where he has earned the most respect from me is he has equally showcased is growth as a musician as well as his loyalty to his roots. 

This song very obviously wouldn’t be one of the songs he would have written for his church choir back in the day. He’s branched out of that genre here with a very sensual passion piece. And yet, it features a sample of gospel singers as the primary instrumental accompaniment. 

Kefa has shown he has a vast capacity to perform as a lyricist, a vocalist, and the song exhibits a skilled production quality as well. There is nothing that has been overdone or lost in the mix. Every element is distinguishable with precision. 

If there is this much good in one song, I can only imagine what kind of experience his LP is going to bring his listeners.