The UK’s ultimate intelligence agency has made itself known in the form of Confucius MC, Strange U and Lee Scott. The trio join forces for ‘Cicada 3301’, an intriguing track named after the mysterious organisation who lays puzzles to recruit codebreakers from the public

Released through Jehst’s YNR Productions, the tune brings together key figures from High Focus and Blah Records, with French beatmaker Keor Meteor lacing a bouncy, boombap backdrop.

Confucius MC opens up the cut in his enigmatic, profound style, linking the abstract with the everyday. King Kashmere of Strange U then takes things to esoteric levels, drawing on vast references from spiritual powers to Garth Ennis’ Preacher. Then, the cynical street-smarts of Lee Scott’s verse target today’s complacency and cancel culture. You’ll have to decide for yourself which verse is the best because they’re all fire in their own ways.

This is a crazy collaboration that requires the close attention of code cracking. Thankfully, Honey JD’s visuals include every lyric so there’s no excuse for failing the test.