Cabra & Mz blur the lines between desire and doubt on new single 'Cruel Games'

There’s a certain kind of late-night record that truly lingers as it plays. And 'Cruel Games', the latest collaboration between Essex’s Cabra and rising voice Mz, feels exactly like that: delivering the soundtrack to a 2am text you probably shouldn’t send, but might anyway.

From the first few bars, the mood is suspended in a soft-focus glow. A featherlight vocal loop drifts overhead while wistful keys sketch out something intimate and slightly bittersweet. Beneath it all, low-end pulses and restrained rhythmic patterns nod toward UK street influences and diasporic groove, but never overpower the track’s fragile centre.

What makes this release so compelling is the dynamic between its two protagonists. Cabra’s delivery is measured, almost weary in its self-awareness. He raps like someone who’s replayed the same scenario in his head a hundred times, weighing ambition against affection and ego against empathy. Mz, on the other hand, steps in with poise, offering a natural friction that mirrors the song’s emotional core. Together, they paint a portrait of two people chasing connection while bracing for impact.

Lyrically, 'Cruel Games' avoids melodrama by dealing in nuance, such as misread signals, shifting priorities, and that familiar hunger for both success and stability. It captures the fragile optimism of wanting everything at once, fully aware that the moment could dissolve without warning.

Cabra continues to carve out his own lane. Rooted in British rap but fluid in execution, he glides between melody and bars with a nonchalant charm that feels instinctive. There’s wit here, but also a willingness to expose uncertainty without losing cool.

As part of the ES6 collective, Cabra’s individuality feels amplified. 'Cruel Games' is proof that subtlety can hit just as hard as bravado as he delivers a smoky, emotionally intelligent release that rewards repeat listens and cements Cabra as one to watch in the UK’s evolving alternative rap space.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yHG8gen3NU