Song of the Day: Menace – BXKS

Hailing from Northampton via Luton, BXKS is a sonic breath of fresh air in the UK rap scene. Her astonishingly quickfire bars and a slick, sharp assurance alongside genre bending and experimental beats full of dreamy samples are all heard through her single, ‘Menace’ produced by P-rallel.

Speaking on ‘Menace’ BXKS says: “Menace is a story about me. It’s about me being aware of my abilities and doing what needs to be done to accomplish my set goal – “please don’t play me”. It’s also a rhetorical question to the listeners :). The artwork (by cocoa juice) is based on “neon genesis” the anime.”

‘Menace’ forms part of BXKS’ debut mixtape ‘Full Time Daydreamer’ released on Friday, 11th June via Marathon Artists. Including previous singles ‘Packed In’ and ‘Work Like ft. KISH!’ which were widely supported by i-D, Target, Mary Anne Hobbs, Jamz Supernova and Rinse FM (playlisted twice), ‘Full Time Daydreamer’ is an eclectic eight-track “playful playlist” crafted mainly with producers TK and P-rallel, lyrically covering everything from rap brags to being broke, all with a bouncy, deft ease to her delivery, mirroring the fun escapist world BXKS wants the tape to represent.

Here’s your first taste to the mixtape; have a listen to ‘Menace’.

Song of the Day: Forgiveness – The High Breed

UK-based hip-hop collective THE HIGH BREED make their return to the scene with single “Forgiveness”, their first release of 2021. The track showcases the collective’s unique hip-hop style, effortlessly blending conscious, relatable lyricism with hypnotic, trap-infused production.

‘Forgiveness’ starts with an organ-inspired synth that instantly connects you to the song’s biblical theme, with the rolling drums and piercing hi-hats giving the song the punch it needs to deliver its weighty philosophical message.

Speaking more on the track, The High Breed say, “‘Forgiveness’ is an honest dialogue about what forgiveness truly means to the individual who has done wrong in a world full of self-denial. It is an expression and an acceptance of the ‘shadow self’, a vulnerable confession about the darker nature of our humanity and a poetic discourse on the morality of the human soul, highlighting the battle between virtue and temptation that no person throughout any age has ever been free from.”

Having gained traction with a string of releases last year, such as ‘Star Dwellers’ and ‘Meet the Gods’, and receiving support from BBC Introducing, the independent DIY collective are set to continue their momentum with single ‘Forgiveness’, now on all platforms.

Song of the Day: Toi – Danyka

DANYKA presents her single ‘Toi’ onto today’s hotspot – a happy, lighthearted bop about young love that maintains chill R&B vibes.

The R&B/pop songstress/songwriter says of her smooth release: ‘I just wanted to have fun with the songwriting! Like in those beginning stages of a relationship, where being with this person feels so new and exciting you can’t get enough and want to know if they feel the same.‘

Danyka’s has an EP titled ‘Other Woman’ coming out soon. Until then, hit play on ‘Toi’…

Song of the Day: Duck Off – La’ Britany

Actress and singer/songwriter LA’BRITANY’s single ‘Ducked Off’ is all about putting herself first in the face of unrequited love.

The single debuted on ALLBLK network’s The Notorious Queens series which features some of the most talked-about women from reality TV, where La’Britney stars in the show alongside Stormey Ramdhan, Tonesa “Toni” Welch, and Mehgan James.

The former Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood star found online fame from her popular “LaMix” song cover and choreography videos– many of which went viral and earned her global attention and nods from 50 Cent, among others. This fueled her to release a string of hits, ‘Booty Drop’, ‘Xxxtra’, and ‘Actin’ Funny’. The latter accumulated millions of streams and channeled La’Britney’s voice over mainstream radio stations.

Have a listen to ‘Ducked Off’ below, produced by DJ Camper and co-written by Price.

Song of the Day: Leïti Sene – T-Rex

Spain’s leading emerging artists in the rap scene LEÏTI SÈNE‘s sleek and poignant single ‘T-Rex’ explores his music journey so far.

Supported by Vogue, i-D, VICE, El Pais and more, Leïti has been bubbling up since 2017 – first garnering attention in his hometown Barcelona with his early music as trap duo SamxSen (with his cousin Sam Davies). Over the last five years, Leïti has truly ascended as an artist in his own right. Garnering global attention, he stands out from the crowd with his heady fusion of rap and hip-hop – performed in Catalan, Spanish and English and informed by his Senegalese roots – a sound that’s seen him shut down stages at esteemed festivals and venues including Primavera Sound, Loom Festival, Chacha Club, Razzmatazz and more. A multifaceted rising talent, Leïti is also an established actor, best known for his role in the hugely popular international Netflix series Elite, and a sought after style tastemaker (Napapjiri x NTS, Nike and more).

Passionate about creative collaborations, Leïti is also a key player in BCN’s burgeoning underground scene. With a discerning eye and ear for detail and his heart in his community, he founded CuteMobb – a leading collective of Spain’s brightest new-gen artists and creatives – and released the collective’s first album CuteTapes last year.

Check out the official music video for ‘T-Rex’, directed by Miguel Morillo.