In his most recent song, Kong, Faris Shafi, who is well-known for his candid yet incredibly relatable lyrics, takes a bold approach and gives listeners a memorable, bite-sized experience. It’s interesting that the rapper-songwriter released the song with little introduction on his Instagram account.
The song, which has a duration of just one minute, opens with a beat that is similar to the opening of his famous song The Body Bhench*d Aisi. The opening sounds in reverse and the peculiar trap elements create a captivating musical environment.
But what really sticks out in Kong is Faris’s polished English poetry flow, which exhibits development and fluency in contrast to his previous work, such as Lafz. This development gives his already varied language repertoire—Punjabi, English, and Urdu—a level of sophistication.
Lyrically, the song follows a well-known pattern as Faris challenges both rivals and admirers with a self-assured proclamation of his abilities, calling himself “the incredible, jaante sabhi hain, Faris Shafi.” He also takes a combative stance, asking listeners to “kha lein, ap nigal lein is ko aur nikal idhar se.”
Having said that, the addition of an autotuned background voice for ad libs presents a unique—if controversial—aspect. Although some would find the trap-infused style appealing, others might argue it detracts from the unadulterated sincerity that characterizes Faris’s earlier works.
Kong is a change from the singer’s typical DIY and low-key sound, going for a fully produced sound similar to that of Muaziz Saarif from the 2022 Premier League. The production value of the song and its accompanying music video, which features CGI aspects the artist has never explored before, are grandiose.
Faris shows his desire to experiment with modern sounds in this short musical excursion, highlighting his adaptability and variety in the ever changing world of Pakistani rap. Even though Kong is only temporary, its influence is evident, and fans are excited to see where Faris will take this musical journey in the future.
I am a dedicated student currently in my seventh semester, pursuing a degree in International Relations. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am actively engaged in the professional field as a content writer at the Rangeinn website.