SAFIYYAH FT RADA - FREE
Melting elements of jazz, reggaeton and soul, Safiyyah’s RADA featuring new single will guide you innocently into the year’s warmer months. The track has an inherent groove that is impossible to not appreciate with a little boogie, whether that’s in the confines of your bedroom, whilst cheffing up some tea or doing your weekly Aldi shop. These are just some of the environments I can remember appreciating the tune recently.
KAM-BU - BLACK ON BLACK
When I switched on 6 music to hear Mary Anne Hobbs playing Are You On?, it reminded me just how big 2021 is turning out to be for KAM-BU. That was the first single from him this year, but Black on Black is even more audible in its vigour. The tracks himself and PULLEN have made this annum are more primitive and provocative than before; Parlophone are definitely bringing the best out of them.
MISTER GREEN - RIDDLE ME
Get ready to break through your bedroom walls with this one on your headphones. MISTER GREEN is known for his vivacious singles, and RIDDLE ME is no different. As a producer and wordsmith, the artist has managed to sonically craft a world unique to him. This single internalises his authentic lyricism and direct flow, making him one of the most instantly recognisable voices in Britain’s notorious underground rap landscape.
ABIIOGENESIS - PRADAU
This single was a great introduction into Abiiogenesis’ back-catalogue last month. PRADAU cherishes a wholesome energy and revels in a cyber trap beat, constructing a contagious cut from someone we will be keeping a firm eye on over this year.
CITYBOYMOE - TURNED OUT ALRIGHT
Since we heard Slide, we knew Cityboymoe had the potential to reach great heights. Turned out alright, with its sparse sonic palette and unrivalled cadence, is just the vibe you need to take you into Spring. If you want to know more about the artist, we recommend heading off and listening to Bone Soda’s NTS Radio show, as they interviewed Moe a while back.
JAYDONCLOVER - SECONDSIN
Jaydonclover has one of the most incredible voices in British music. Blurring the R&B flavour of Erykah Badu with the more tortured tones of Beth Gibbons (of Portishead), it is difficult to pin point her vocals under one genre. On Secondsin, you are completely transported by the songstress’’ vivid story telling and dylantheinfamous’ mysterious instrumental.
ONOE CAPONOE - YELLOW SUBMARINE
Onoe’s psychedelic hiphop has been under appreciated for too long, and Yellow Submarine only backs up this argument. The vibrant, vintage sampling he’s internalised over the years is on full show here, incarnating his hallucinogenic rhymes. Directed and animated by Caponoe himself, the visuals, as always, are well worth watching, and you can see them below.
DANNY SANCHEZ - LATELY FT BEL COBAIN
1/2 of his latest EP, Lately sees Danny Sanchez rapping consciously over the rhythmic prowess of Kxmel’s production. Bel Cobain offers a typically harmonious verse too, matching Sanchez’ deep lyricism whilst making the overall vibe all the more dreamy.
FEUX FT ASHBECK - CLOUD NINE
The grind hasn’t stopped for Feux since the release of his debut album PURE NINE. Letting his bilingualism flow over the melodic, g-funk inspired production, CLOUD NINE embodies all the North West Londoner’s lyrical lnuances, and enlists Ashbeck for a pretty tasty feature too. Feux recently dropped some of his best visuals yet too for the single Sky High, which we recommend checking out.
JOSIE MAN - CUTS AND BRUISES
If you haven’t been introduced to Josie Man’s spiritual indie inflections, then this single is as good as any to check out in her discography. Melodious hooks, lucid instrumentation and the Kent native’s feathery vocals all combine in fine fashion on Cuts and Bruises, personifying her potent lyricism. Watch the video below.
GREENTEA PENG - NAH IT AIN’T THE SAME
This single marks the build up to Greentea Peng’s debut album, MAN MADE, which is set for release in the summer. It’s been around 3 years since Aria Wells released Sensi, the project that baptised her existence in Britain’s frivolous music scene, and Nah It Ain’t The Same sonically paints just how far she has come in this time. Elements of funk, soul, jungle and jazz simmer under the Londoner’s vocal acrobatics, providing a great insight into the direction of her forthcoming album.