You know something? There is a really underrated musical instrument that provides the lead instrumentation for Rapper PNC‘s newest single from his Unbothered Rapper project, titled We On. I refer to the Xylophone.

This track, produced by PNC‘s long time colleague and buddy 41, gives us a quality lesson in how this instrument can be applied to give a surprisingly haunting, melancholic texture. A percussion tool that can provide from harsh and sharp through to the softest, almost siren-like lament, the trusty Xylophone appears on probably more than you think.

For this genre, PNC is a Master Tradesman. His vocal has a definitive timbre, and the slick addition of the oh-so-Enzed vowel pronunciation from time to time, circles the wagons around the South Pacific and its adherents and exponents of the form. This is great. Rapping is not an easy art, and to deliver flowing free-form – be it actual or from a piece of paper in the rapper’s hand – is actually quite difficult. Yes, the studio can fix it in the mix, but deliver it live too and hit the rhythm perfectly. Hard.

I am more of a rock fan myself, and I never pretend otherwise, but a top delivery, great studio work, and some fascinating lyrics (including several mentions of Canterbury rugby!) make this track shine brightly. Some really deep bass, making the crockery rumble when turned up, accompanied by a nicely balanced percussion and some sweet textured twiddly things support that compelling, melancholy Xylophone that gives the track a very subversive but not subdued vibe. Got the old head nodding along and the feetsies tapping.

This is a surefire chart-bound release. It’s going to be on Mai, George, 95bFM, Active, RDU, the commercial, student and urban community stations. If our fella gets a vid for it soon it’ll be odds on for Juice and anywhere else. You’ll be hearing this around the place. One to enjoy as the weather gets warmer.

Class will out. This is stratospheric class in the Rhythm And Poetry genre. I assume you all knew RAP was the acronym for Rhythm And Poetry?… No? Every day’s an education with Jacko around.

Outta the park yet again PNC.