Sefu

About

Sefu, a Houston-born rapper and producer, continues to develop in his craft with each successive project he releases, utilizing his ear for unique samples and ability to conjure lyrics from the depths of each instrumental. As a child, he grew up listening to his parents’ music, including Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, and Michael Jackson. When he did listen to rap, it included acts from the ‘00s, including MF DOOM, Kanye, J Dilla, and Lil Wayne. As a highschooler, he was mostly focused on athletics. A basketball and track star, Sefu didn’t start considering rap as a fully viable pursuit until the Covid-19 pandemic. After choosing his artistic alias (Sefu means “sword” in Swahili), he released his first project, Abraham, using material he recorded near the end of his time in high school. GOD IS A BLACK WOMAN followed in November 2020 and the then 18-year-old artist delivered 28 minutes of raps that warrant immediate repetition. However, it was Stars Are Born in Pairs, his third release on streaming, that brought him both an audience and a full confidence in his output. Most prominently featured on the project is Sefu’s ability to take samples, whether they are obscure or well-known, and transform them entirely. DARK NIGHT SOUL takes this practice even further, and, combined with the enhanced polishing and mixing he has learned to employ, this album serves as a display of his growth as an artist over these four years. Written by Grant Bellchamber Photos by Kayla Wallace

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