The NYC artists join forces for a mystical approach to hip hop and R&B.

Singer-songwriter Jesse Boykins III and producer-rapper MeLo-X have both been percolating in the New York underground for some time. The collaboration between the similarly-minded artists aims to fuse traditional soul music with “elements of Afro-Beat, West Indian music and Electronic Soul” according to Ninja Tune. The London independent stronghold will release their debut album Zulu Guru on October 15.

Lead single ‘Black Orpheus’ is available now via Ninja Tune. The contemplative tune finds Boykins and MeLo-X taking turns over a soulful, left-field jaunt by producer AFTA-1 that would be at home on Ninja Tune’s Brainfeeder imprint.