Blanco continues his run of noteworthy singles with the summery Kojey Radical collaboration, “The Long Way”. The Kennington, South London rapper started out as a frontman in drill group Harlem Spartans. Since then, he’s toyed with multiple fusions, explored widely on the 2021 mixtape, City of God. His latest single comes assisted by another envelope-pusher, Kojey Radical, a sleek cut produced by Kxlla K that’s arrived just in time for summer. The track’s music video reflects the intent, emphasising the importance of local settings and family time. It’s a fitting picture for the song’s subject ..read more

The East London rapper’s debut album is a theatrical blockbuster, vividly journeying through passionate tales of street pain, ambitions and glory for the history books. There’s a phrase for when an artist’s second album chases heights set by the first. But there’s no equivalent phrase for the debut effort. Let’s coin one now, and call it the debut album dread. Ever felt time drag for a debut so much you become incredibly nervous for the result? Potter Payer’s an artist that’s been living in that dread for a full decade. During that time, he practiced what most UK rappers honed in the early 201 ..read more

Steve Basanti British-Nigerian rapper SamRecks comes through with his debut EP, the 8-track Easier Said Than Done, a woozy stream of consciousness from the newcomer. For a debut project, SamRecks could not impress any more than he does. Easier Said Than Done comes as a full package, backed by fluvial production, sticky flows and creative visuals. Lead single “BACK PACK” reeled listeners in with its warbling bounce, while the music video for “SUMO” shows SamRecks is as smooth with the ladies as the track itself. Other highlights include “SEGA”, the best-produced song on the project with its ble ..read more

South London singer and rapper Raf-Saperra releases his debut mixtape to make his mark in bridging the world of Bhangra and UK rap. The Punjabi newcomer navigated through 2022 with various singles putting him on the map, namely the breakout track “N.L.S. (Nach Le Soniye)” and the hip hop-centred “Modern Mirza”. His debut project is one that covers all bases, offering shades of pirate radio in its presentation, surrounded by applicable skits to lay out the concept. Throughout the nineteen tracks, Raf-Saperra stays in touch with his cultures, whether it is the traditional Punjabi beats and voca ..read more

Six years since his emergence, South London’s Russ Millions delivers his debut mixtape to make a case for being more than a singles artist. Russ’ debut mixtape comes after a string of successful singles, including “Body”, the first number one UK drill song. One of a Kind is no introduction to Russ Millions, but rather a continuation of the chapter we’re accustomed to. His knack for drill hits is present across the seventeen tracks, following his familiar formula of bite-sized energy, which comes with thumping production and zig-zag flows. The project at its best in cuts like “6AM” and “Pisces ..read more

North London’s hottest prospect offers glimmers of potential on his debut mixtape, sprouting casually on the search for his unique selling point. The anticipation for Clavish’s arrival has been bubbling since 2018. Freestyles and singles put the 23-year-old in pole position to break through the ceiling, slotting like a jigsaw piece in the lane of trap street tales that the nation’s core listeners adore. Nearly five years on, the rapper’s full-length debut arrives with the same anticipation expressed on his emergence. Rap Game Awful aims to make up for that lost time, filled to the brim wi ..read more

Lancey Foux has released his sixth studio album, LIFE IN HELL, a psychedelic trap escapade charged with high energy beats and the rapper’s most varied work to date. Teased since the tail end of 2021, Foux’s latest record feels like a larger step in his career. Known for his speaker-splitting rage-trap raps, LIFE IN HELL brings the familiar sound across the 22 tracks; highlights such as “Lancey or Lancey”, “Sun Moon” and “World on Fire” are right in line with typical offerings. But it is the softer side of LIFE IN HELL that grants Lancey’s best songs to date. Opening cut “Spirit of X2C” is an e ..read more

On his third studio album, Loyle Carner invigorates his mental frets for a heavy self-examination of raw emotions. Loyle Carner is at the helm of UK hip hop when it comes to introspection. His gentle raps have been a signature stamp since the 2017 debut, Yesterday’s Gone, and reached their potential on the 2019 sophomore, Not Waving, but Drowning—both Gold-certified albums. Now a soon-to-be father, Loyle Carner has more uncharted territories to explore. Hugo is another autobiographical offering, a consistent collection of tales that’s overtly transparent of its best moments. Photography: Sirus ..read more

East London rapper Zino Vinci unveils his new single, “CEO of the Friendship Group”, setting to command authority as a self-nurtured artist to watch. A bite-sized track, “CEO of the Friendship Group” packs in assured flows, breaks and a hook over woozy production, built around a sample of Ark Patrol’s 2016 track “Let Go” and AJ Tracey’s “Packages” freestyle, courtesy of Prod. Dom. The song’s namesake references the internet meme surrounding hierarchy in male friendship groups, which Zino uses to assert his invincible attitude. Hailing from Newham, East London, Zino Vinci takes a lo-fi approach ..read more

The Gipsy Hill rapper enters his second prime on The Last Whip II, a tenacious sequel cut from the same cloth as the classic predecessor. K-Trap has weathered the storm. He’s seen the fruits of his labour as a drill pioneer, embraced into the modern era with open arms. Though it took a bump in the road to get to this stage. His ambitions were set on new territories, pursuing personal content on trap templates for his debut studio album, Street Side Effects, released in 2020. However, fan reception was mixed, resulting in K-Trap parting ways with his label and taking it back to basics. The fans ..read more