Hip Hop in South Africa has been over saturated with half baked trap songs that aren’t really meant to achieve anything. It’s like there’s an identity crisis that looms large in the music industry. Innovation and creativity has fallen far off. Sometimes the ability is higher than the passion or vice versa. The same lukewarm sounds are played over and over again, until you start to believe it’s actually good music but it’s tolerance more than anything.

With all the dirt, there’s actually a few precious stones that are worth the ear, like Third Lane Flows by Luke. The Pietermaritzburg rapper approaches hip hop with a slightly different manner, with a smooth sound that you could listen to if you want to escape the party music. Third Lane Flows is the perfect outlet to set the mood to a casual Friday afternoon. His R&B and Soul fused style is a breathe of fresh air. Third Lane Flows is a candid project which holds a strong lyrical story line.

The features on the EP are well picked and managed to form a voice of synergy throughout the effort, nothing sounds out of place or too forced. The best element of Third Lane Flows is undoubtedly the production and feature selection. Ring Ring/Faithful  featuring P. Elle, a ten minute long song which doesn’t sound too long at all, exploring elements of sex, love, music and having to make time for all three. The song is dynamic and changes, with a beautiful transition, P. Elle really brings the soul throughout the record.

Luke is really infatuated with love stories in his music, whether it’s love for his city, music or the women in his life. Third Lane Flows is a well put together project that’s a lot more real than anything you could possibly find. With all the fast paced music out there, there’s still time to sit back and relax to music like Third Lane Flows. The record Still Do is a song that really defines Luke, the jazzy experience you pick up in his production really creates an essence of maturity which mash up seamlessly with his lyrics.