Marlowe, the alt rap dyad of L’Orange and Solemn Brigham, are back with “Royal.” On the new single, the duo enlists esteemed lyricists Joell Ortiz and Blu for an exhibition of elite-level rhyming. “Royal” is the heavy hitting follow up to Past Life, which was featured on BBC6’s Song of the Day! “Royal” is the second release taken from the duo’s highly-anticipated new album, Marlowe 3, due out October 28th on Mello Music Group.

On “Royal,” we see Solemn Brigham, Blu, and Joell Ortiz, trade bars over an epic instrumental provided by L’Orange. The production is high-energy and charismatic, a mise en scene for the three rap titans to deliver remarkable performances. L’Orange explains his approach to the production on the track, “This is the most traditional song on the record. Normally I get very involved in my production and change the beat up a ton but for this one I wanted to get out of the way of the rappers and let them do what they do best.”

Marlowe is a rap duo, a sonic underworld of psychedelic beats and breakneck flows that hit with wig-splitting force. A collaboration between producer/mad writer L’Orange and rap prodigy Solemn Brigham, Marlowe has set their own standard for Hip-Hop internationally. The two creative partners and longtime friends from North Carolina have released two critically-acclaimed albums, headlining US & UK tours and capturing the attention of fans worldwide.

Marlowe 3 is a culmination of the growth the duo has had from their previous projects and tours. Everything from the writing to the production changed in a way with both Solemn and L’Orange completely retooling their studios throughout the creation of the project. L’Orange states, “This album feels like a maturity to who we are as a group. We set out to make something that was big, energetic, fun and explosive and I feel like we did that without losing control. I feel like Solemn and I are the best we’ve ever been.”

Following Marlowe 2, the duo embarked on a sold out 2021 UK tour. The new album is heavily influenced by their time spent touring in the UK. Solemn explains, “Spending time in the UK gave us a lot to draw from and made me want to give back to the people who showed love. Seeing the effect that we’ve had on people in person gives me the sense that Marlowe is more than just the two of us now and I pull from that as well.”

In 2016, L’Orange underwent two ear surgeries which drastically impaired his hearing. Marlowe 3 is the first album L’Orange has mixed since going completely deaf in his right ear. He says, “I’m finally to the point where I feel comfortable adjusting to this new life. It’s been 10 years since the last one I mixed and I feel really good about doing it myself.”