Brooklyn Saint Releases New Single

Brooklyn Saint is the powerhouse duo of vocalist Shareef Keyes (Brooklyn) and drummer-producer Emanuel Harrold (St. Louis). Shareef’s vocal palette nods to Janelle Monáe’s genre-bending flair, Marvin Gaye’s velvet soul, James Brown’s fire, George Clinton’s funk cosmos, A Tribe Called Quest’s jazz-rap cool, and Biggie’s street-level storytelling. Emanuel’s compass points to master drummers Max Roach and Roy Haynes, the orchestral precision of Quincy Jones, and the playful, idea-driven ethos of De La Soul.

The partnership sparked during the pandemic with “See,” a cut from Emanuel’s album that earned 75K streams and Grammy consideration—a calling card that quickly translated to real-world momentum. The duo packed City Winery St. Louis and headlined Fest of Nations, proving their studio chemistry had the live chops to match. Now they’re channeling that energy into a 2025 full-length that blends house, soul, and jazz, with guests Masego, Omari Hardwick, and Stout. The process is simple and potent: Emanuel builds the sound, Shareef pens the story—resulting in rhythm-driven soul with a collaborative pulse.

“What You Telling Me” rides a rubber-band groove and centers on a simple challenge: say what you mean, mean what you say. Emanuel Harrold’s drummer-producer instincts lead with a house-leaning, jazz-literate pocket—syncopated drums, minimalist keys, and a bassline that pulls you forward—while Shareef Keyes moves effortlessly between a velvet croon and a preacher’s call.

You can hear the lineage in the details: Max Roach-tight phrasing, Quincy-clean arrangement, James Brown snap, and ATCQ swing. Yet nothing here feels retro. The duo keeps it modern and uncluttered, letting the hook and the pocket do the heavy lifting. The result is “accountability you can dance to”—confident, conversational, and impossible to sit still through.