I am absolutely thrilled to reintroduce you all to the Deptford Sound Collective, a group of musicians who have been responsible for being the soul and the heartbeat of the South London scene for a long time now. They understand how to channelize all the gritty and energetic elements present in their surroundings and express them through sound in the most beautiful way possible. They really made their mark on us with “Give Me. Give Me. Give Me, I want it all” and “#Stop Running,” both of which I find myself listening to regularly because of the joy and positivity that I derive from them when life gets a bit too much. At last, here comes another masterpiece from the collective titled “Miss U # Tupac,” which was officially released on June 6th. From the start, one can sense that there is a certain maturity in how they carry out their craft, which comes down to a particular combination of rhythm and storytelling only a collective this close to their roots can accomplish. It has been an amazing pleasure for me to watch the evolution of the Deptford Sound Collective since the beginning, and I feel that the single in question is another step up towards even greater heights for this remarkable musical collective. I want to share the details of this amazing release with you.

The song makes quite an impact from its very first moment as it begins with a gentle layer of delicate mouth percussion, which seems so intimate as if the singer were breathing softly into your ears. This human texture is then immediately overwhelmed by an angelic melody that makes the listener feel as if he were somewhere in a dream world. I must admit that I really wasn’t prepared for this, living in a time of rap music when most songs usually feature an assaultive beginning, this thoughtful build-up creates an impression of absolute professionalism. The song shows a clear intention to depart from typical formulas of the genre. Listening to this song and feeling its beauty, I realized how powerful art can be if you decide to focus on atmosphere instead of following any expectations.

Tragically, the list of great talents cut down young in their prime continues unabated, even when there is one shadow which casts itself into a category all its own, and while the passing of individuals such as Aaliyah and Biggie still looms large within our cultural psyche, the death of Tupac is an event which reverberates with a power and a force that continues to echo throughout every element of our world today. And it is only fitting that the Deptford Sound Collective takes up this mantle with their latest track, “Miss U #Tupac,” released as part of the upcoming biographical film Tupac Shakur: Life & Murder of a Revolutionary & Music Legend, starring none other than the visionary filmmaker Ray Barron-Woolford FRSA. Captured in a haunting way in London’s capital city, the song itself acts as a collective breath from a globe struggling with the shock of his death. The song successfully encapsulates that hollowness, that universal feeling that all fans around the globe have in their hearts, but the collective has managed an even more miraculous feat than that – they have taken a feeling of loss and made it live again. The focus of the song, Tupac’s continuing legacy, allows us to reflect not only upon his music but on his life as a whole. Tupac wasn’t just another musician; he was an architect who built a culture where he could speak out against oppression, inspire revolution, and encourage people to continue the important dialogue that was so crucial in maintaining a spark of revolutionary hope.

The production of “Miss U #Tupac” demonstrates the perfect balance of respect for the music, walking the fine line between raw, unpolished emotionality and the sort of anthemic, energized quality that is necessary when creating a song in honor of a legendary artist. The Deptford Sound Collective certainly knows their stuff; the track sounds as if it were a homage to Tupac’s diverse taste in music, which included many more things than simply rap. With the use of different textures alluding to the other interests of this complex artist, the song seems truly well thought out. There is great meaning and significance behind the way the artist deals with time passing. Released several decades later than the tragic accident that caused his demise, the track bears a lot of weight on its shoulders. It reflects the bittersweetness of the understanding that even if one great revolutionary was taken from the world by means of murder, the fire ignited in him cannot ever die out. The producers managed to blend the mood of sorrowful eulogy and triumphant shout, reminding us that there is a very important truth that needs to be acknowledged: despite the fact that Tupac died, the revolution he led did not end; it just passed into the hands of those he influenced. The album can be called quite an important and significant one.

Hip-hop has a massive range of works that pay homage to Tupac Shakur, from unlicensed allusions to authorized ones. People have witnessed rappers such as Kendrick Lamar openly acknowledge that Tupac Shakur is the inspiration behind their music. However, it is a breath of fresh air when someone comes across an actual, honest, and necessary tribute to this rapper. “Miss U #Tupac” can steer away from all of the cliches in the genre and provide listeners with an array of songs that truly show just how important Tupac was to them. I believe that if Tupac had been alive, he would definitely have appreciated this work as well. It has soul, and there is reverence for artistry here, in line with what the genius himself stood for. The Deptford Sound Collective has once again struck a perfect balance between all elements of their artistry and established themselves as artists who not only produce music but also know exactly how important each piece can be. Watching their collection grow in the way that it is growing, at the moment, leaves little doubt that fame will follow in no time. Seeing this happen before my eyes is a privilege, and one that I am more than glad to enjoy as a music critic. They have truly done an amazing job so far, and I can hardly wait to see how they proceed.

Stream “Miss U #Tupac” on Spotify