‘LMF2 (feat. CRO)’ is not the first time we’ve seen a rapper feature themselves on a record. Whether it’s Drake’s scathing derision of peers replicating his style on ‘5AM in Toronto’: “that’s why every song sounds like Drake, featuring Drake”, Nas sampling himself on ‘The Message’, or J.Cole including 2 guest appearances from himself under the alias of kiLL edward on 2018’s K.O.D, it’s a move that rarely fails to pique the interest of listeners.
In CRO’s case, however, it doesn’t feel as though the Aalen-born rapper is looking to tap into a healthy dose of braggadocio in quite the same manner. With his face still hidden by his signature panda mask, ‘LMF2’ marks the third release from CRO in as many months as he gears up to release a follow up to 2017’s tru.
Intentionally disorientating, the video begins with shots of a woman floating face up in water, before several different shots of her morph into an aquamarine dream sequence. As CRO croons over guitar chords, an all-out effect of acidic Arcadia is achieved.
The song was inspired by a recent trip CRO took to Bali, with the intention of working on his forthcoming album. Sonically, the track is similar to the songs we can expect from the new project. Atmospherically, it aims to reflect a spiritual journey taken towards achieving genuine self-love. In light of this, the act of featuring himself feels like less of an arrogant flex, but more like a trip (we’ll leave it up to you to decide, which one) that has allowed him to define a new personal degree of self-awareness, so radically distanced from his former self, that there are now two versions of CRO.
Watch the music video for CRO’s latest single ‘LMF2’ below: