With a driving beat that blends together influences ranging from funk to electronica and West Coast hip-hop, Slim Papi has once again woven together a smooth, smoky offering to the UK rap scene. The stylish music video features hazy footage shot around London, with a particular focus on scenes inside a church and a wine shop. The video was shot and edited by the talented London based video creator Honey JD.

Slim Papi’s unique flow and idiosyncratic lyrics are present all throughout the tune, with musings on food (a common theme in his music), characters from the adored HBO show The Sopranos and ‘80s sci-fi.

“Rod Serling” is the first single from Slim Papi’s upcoming E.P. Châteauneuf​​-​​du​​-​​Papi Vol. 2, which follows his first Châteauneuf​​-​​du​​-​​Papi instalment, which was released in February. The five track E.P. follows a common theme in its song titles; beloved and key figures in American cinema, including actors Harry Dean Stanton and Steve Buscemi, aforementioned screenwriter Rod Serling and revered director David Lynch.

The E.P. is available for both physical and digital pre-order via Bandcamp. The physical media in question is a 7” vinyl that includes an A7 art print of the cover art, designed by Johnny Brennan. Anyone eager to snap up a copy should get themselves over to Bandcamp as soon as possible, as there are only seventeen copies remaining of the originally pressed 100.

You can also check out Slim Papi’s delightful first instalment in the Châteauneuf​​-​​du​​-​​Papi series over on his Bandcamp page as well. All physical versions of the E.P. are now sold out, however you can still indulge in the London rapper’s suave flow and culinary themed rhymes in digital form, either via Bandcamp or other streaming services such as Spotify.

“Emidio Pepe”, produced by Forrest DLG, is driven by a hypnotic jazz-flavoured beat, featuring a delectable vinyl crackle over the top of roomy, mysterious acoustic and electric piano licks, supported by a rumbling double bass sample. Over the top, Slim Papi and Sonnyjim deliver fluid rhymes detailing their love of cuisine and their favourite dining locations across the world, including Lebanese Grill on New Kent Road in London. Slim Papi also makes his love of wine known throughout, with lines such as: “I drive the car somewhere far to sip a pinot noir” and “I’m sipping cuvée on a Tuesday”.

The single comes a month after Slim Papi’s first single was released from his upcoming E.P. Châteauneuf-du-Papi, entitled “Asparagus Tips”, another jazzy, seemingly West Coast inspired tune that sees the rapper talking about living a lavish lifestyle, which includes, of course, naming off a few culinary delights. The tune was very well-received, garnering praise from the likes of Clash, Rinse FM and streaming service TIDAL.The song is available via all streaming services, and the accompanying music video can be viewed down below.

Châteauneuf-du-Papi will be released later this month, and will feature four tracks, “Asparagus Tips”, “Emidio Pepe”, “Le Corbusier” and the curiously Seinfeld inspired “Cosmo Kramer” which features Mexico-based, UK born rapper Jam Baxter. The illustration and artwork design is the work of Johnny Brennan of Studio Moross.

Details of the upcoming E.P., including pre-orders, can be found on Bandcamp. A 7” vinyl of the E.P. (which includes an A7 art print) is currently available for pre-order, on top of the now sold out “Charisma Deluxe” bundle, which featured the vinyl record, the A7 art print, an artwork sticker, and perhaps most interestingly, Slim Papi’s own limited edition wine, produced in the Campania region of Southern Italy where the rapper spent a portion of the 2020 lockdown.