Montao - Present Tense (feat. Rakim)

Liverpool producer Montao unveils “Present Tense”, an atmospheric collaboration with one of hip-hop’s most revered voices, Rakim. Moving through a slow-burning blend of trip-hop, cinematic electronica and alternative hip-hop, the track is built around a soaring female vocal loop that hangs in the air like a memory, creating a haunting and emotional backdrop for Rakim’s unmistakable delivery.

“Present Tense” takes Montao’s instinct for atmosphere and emotion into striking new territory, pairing his immersive, understated production with the lyrical weight of Rakim, a foundational figure whose influence on hip-hop is almost immeasurable. Rather than leaning on nostalgia, the collaboration feels forward-looking: an intimate meditation on where we are, where we’ve been, and how quickly it all passes.