Produced by longtime collaborator and one quarter of Santi’s tight-knit Monster Boys crew, Genio, ‘Rapid Fire’ sees Santi, Shane Eagle and Amaarae delivering on an exciting fusion of dancehall grooves, captivating brag-raps and nostalgic R&B licks, and the accompanying music video, which was shot in South Africa and Nigeria, brings the record further to life. Directed by Santi himself, the visuals explore themes of freedom and rage, and make for gripping viewing from start to finish.
Shane Eagle sets the track off, with his absurdist charm, delicately delivered bars, and a swift rap flow, over a canoodling loop and delayed snares that expand into something beyond magical once the drums kick in. The chief conductor Santi then takes the lead, serving top shotta lyrics and toasting up the mic in a fashion that salutes the old skool era that birthed his style, and Amaarae elevates the vibe even further, as her voice purrs, while she narrates youthful takes with an old soul’s flair.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the ‘Rapid Fire’ music video, Santi says, “the video for ‘Rapid Fire’ is a piece expressing exuberance, freedom and rage. The video centres around a gang called ‘The Lost Boys’, and the exact aim of the video was to show freedom from a group of people who were necessarily never understood by society but continued on their quest to find themselves while enjoying and grasping the ups and downs of life”.