Covers are usually seen as side projects, a way to nod at influences, showcase range, or keep fans engaged between originals. But for Philadelphia’s PRLM CHLD (Scottie Kash and Pride Zu), covers aren’t side projects — they are center stage. Their ongoing series Karaoke Covers takes songs we already know and love and rebuilds them in their own sonic language.
It’s a bold move that feels both strategic and deeply creative. By leaning on the familiar, they lower the barrier for listeners to step in. But once inside, you realize the point isn’t nostalgia — it’s transformation. PRLM CHLD uses each cover as a bridge, a way to connect through common ground while introducing a sound that is entirely their own.
Within the duo itself, Pride Zu brings more than his vocals. He produced each track in the series, giving Karaoke Covers a consistency and cohesion that makes it feel fully rooted in PRLM CHLD’s own artistry and sound.
Each track arrives with its own video, turning the project into a full-on visual series. The duo even describes it in “seasons,” much like a show. That language suggests they see these covers as episodes in a larger story arc, unfolding week by week. It reframes the way we experience music, less like a playlist and more like a narrative with momentum.
That vision is reinforced by their collaboration with Elijah Crawford, CEO and Creative Director of Ugly Arts Studios, a name well known in Philadelphia for sharp creative direction and a distinct visual style. Ugly Arts’ involvement underscores PRLM CHLD’s commitment. Each video is crafted with intention, blending music and film into a polished work of art.
What PRLM CHLD is doing speaks to a larger idea that marketers and designers have long understood: people crave the new, but only if it’s grounded in the familiar. Karaoke Covers is a perfect example of that. It bridges the gap between songs we already love and the fresh, boundary-pushing sound that defines PRLM CHLD. It’s a strategy as much as it is an art form, one that builds connection now while setting the stage for what comes next.
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So stay tuned. PRLM CHLD has a surprising number of covers already lined up, each with its own video, dropping every Monday and Wednesday on Instagram and TikTok. And while the covers are a show in themselves, the duo has hinted that original music is also on the horizon.
@prlmchld On this weeks installment.. ✍🏽 New episodes every Wednesday #fyp #xybca #karaoke #karaokecovers #coversong ♬ Olivia by The Whispers - Bubba Roddy