UK rapper/songwriter Kace’s new EP Society, is part semi-autobiographical, part social commentary. An eight-track body of work that dives into the trials and tribulations of POC in the city of London. Set in the E3 postcode area comprising areas like Bow and Bromley-by-Bow, and falls under the jurisdiction of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Kace takes audiences through a series of events, situations and how the system is arranged to keep the odds high. Through his lens, he gives audiences a firsthand view of things ranging from self-doubt and lack of financial and career elevation to self-determination through resilience and natural wherewithal.

“Society” is the first cut on the tape and helps set the tone with its unapologetic and insightful themes. Over a bass-heavy and melodic soundscape, Kace shares his thoughts on his environment and the social-political structures that form walls against progress. Armed with his whispered flow and melody-laced chorus, he sings  with all his might “You wanna see the decline of me so I can work long hours cheap/Society’s been denying me, in the past, it’s been hard to stay free.” Kace knows the challenge ahead but despite the arduous task, he is not ready to back down. This is followed by the incisive “Bun the Babylon” where he goes against the overzealous feds who continue to harass him because of the colour of his skin. It’s a devil-may-care attack on the powers that be and Kace bares his mind as he is fed up with their corrupt practices. In “wool on our eyes” and “Needs&Wants,” Kace takes us through his daily grind and the need for physical intimacy in an era where his grind cashes with that special someone. The former is a reminder to stay woke and aware of the system’s machinations while the latter shows how he cherishes his work ethic and the difficulties in balancing it with a healthy love life.

The production of the project has been quite eclectic and varies from one song to the other. From thick bass-driven rhythms, afrowave elements with lofi sensibilities, Kace carefully chooses his backdrops to fit his stories. The solemn “Touch Your soul” tugs at the heartstrings with its raw melancholy and overall reflective vibe while “Indoctrination” looks at his past run-ins with corrupt police. The track is particularly hunting as it details Kace’s childhood trauma behind bars and being charged for a crime he didn’t commit. Lines like “I was only a teen when they got hold of me and put me in a celly man, I could not see the fucking light/I was let free after mom collected me/the damaged done already now she see me in a different light” underpin the longlasting effect of these events. The project closes out with “Deducing” and “Endeavour,” the former is a playful tune that sees Kace as a man on a mission whose status attracts baddies while the latter continues the social commentary on the never-ending struggles of people like him in the ends. He doesn’t mince his words and gives listeners a raw, unfiltered look at life from a somewhat gloomy but realistic lens.

Overall Society, is an interesting and somewhat thought-provoking project that details reality in its rawest form. Nothing is sugar-coated and Kace doesn’t shy from being honest, vulnerable and emotional at times.