Track of the Day: Learn to Grow – ‘Ancient China’

Having been a mainstay on the Irish music scene for the last number of years, producer and musician cbakl has joined forces with talented Belfast rapper Lacuna to create rap duo Learn to Grow.

The pair dropped their first outing today on Class Craic Records, titled ‘Ancient China’. The focus of Learn to Grow is firmly on introspective, meditative rhymes over captivating instrumentals.

Debut single ‘Ancient China’ features of raps from both cbakl and Spotify’s New Music Friday UK-featured rapper Lacuna, with the duo questioning previous successes, death and what the future holds.

“It’s something that was in the works for a long time to be honest, I love the production side of music but picking up the microphone and performing is always something I’ve wanted to do too,” cbakl says, speaking of the inspiration behind the track.

“This first single is a taste of what’s to come from us throughout 2022 and beyond. I’m excited to get the ball rolling and even sweeter that I get to do it with one of my closest friends & collaborators.”

Lacuna has released a string of singles in the last three years, including 2021’s ‘GHOSTS’, ‘FUTURE’, ‘GULLY / PARAFFIN’, ‘TIRED & GREED’, ‘Perching’ (2020), 2019 single ‘The Rift’ and EP They Spoke My Name.

After momentous 2021 for cbakl, he released soulful ‘cut off your nose to spite your face’ and ‘where my soul takes me’ at the end of last year. The alternative hip-hop artist also performed on the BBC alongside Declan O’Rourke and produce two tracks featured in new Irish drama Kin – starring Aidan Gillen.

With the Belfast producer already having vast experience in the Irish music industry, culminating over 12 million streams through his solo instrumental releases, the duo plan to take the knowledge they’ve accumulated over the years to become a consistent presence within the Irish scene for years to come.

Listen to ‘Ancient China’ below: