Premiering via Lauren Laverne at BBC Radio 6 Music FFSYTHO?! and Jabru is the perfect teaming up of mavericks to capture a uniquely British sensibility.
Hot off performing at this years BBC Introducing stage at Reading & Leeds Festival, she’s the 4’11” proudly gay MC from Northampton who smashed into the grime world in 2019 – winning props from the legend Terror Danjah with others quickly falling in line. She then proved that she could turn her hand to pretty much any rhyme style you choose to name. Jabru is Exeters “producer’s producer” who has a hand in collaborations with everyone from Zed Bias and Joel Culpepper to Optimo and Throne of Blood to Roots Manuva and the Radiophonic Workshop.
Jabru’s remix of FFSYTHO?!’s ‘Ask About Me’ smashed UK radio from Annie Mac and beyond. Now their first full collab, the single ‘Keep On’ – a Just Blaze style hip hop anthem with vocals from the one and only Alice Russell and an underground superstar cast of guest musicians including Space Dimension Controller, Mara Carlyle and the Gentlemen’s Dub Club horn section – is out now on Purple City with a full collaboration EP running the gamut of styles to follow very soon.
Following her entry on the blog with track, ‘Can’t F With’, which claimed the Song of the Day Spotlight, J-ONYX continues to set the pace with her powerful lyrics and assertive flow…
‘Chop The Bummies’ emphasises the importance of having the right people in your circle. Concealing her identity, the rapper effortlessly glides over a hard-hitting beat and demonstrates the level at which she is establishing herself within the industry.
The visuals directed by Eric Myers perfectly represent the alpha-female flex that she’s becoming synonymous with on her exciting rise as a rapper. Taking viewers on a journey, J-Onyx cruises around the city surrounded by her day-one friends, captured with captivating camera angles, classical cars and topped up with energy from different dancers that interpret the record through motion and give the visuals a fresh dynamic. Affirming herself as one of London’s most promising newcomers, J-Onyx makes herself unmissable with her latest visuals, even behind her disguise. Check out the video below…
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’.
A true artist in her own lane, South London rapper on-the-rise QUEENIE, slams down one slick delivery on her latest single, ‘One Thing’ once again showcases her lyrical prowess and effortless flow.
Queenie began making a name for herself on the grime scene during its grassroots stages, being known for a Female Allstars track, and her part in DVD’s like ‘Southern Hospitality’ and ‘Practice Hours’. Fellow female rapper Lioness also called on Queenie to join with five other powerful female rappers on the huge ‘DBT Remix’, that went on to gain wide spread support online and across radio. Following this, Queenie decided to give music a real chance and went on to release ‘Smoke’, ‘Laid Out’ and ‘Anymore’. Queenie featured on a track with Taliifah, entitled ‘Open Season’ and her biggest release to date ‘Letting up Now’ is still making the rounds. Right now, Queenie is focused on building her catalogue and finding her tribe of people.
On this project we see Queenie diversifying her sound and showcasing a more rhythmic style pattern, in comparison to the more grime-esque skippy flow we’ve become accustomed to hearing from her. ‘One Thing’ is a sign of great things to come from Queenie.
Look out for the her Forté EP dropping on the 21st May…but for now, wrap your ear around this….
A run of exceptional and critically acclaimed singles climaxes with the release of the debut album ‘Misdiagnosis of Chyvonne Johnson’ from TRUEMENDOUS. Marking the release with a fresh, new visual for one of the albums finest cuts, ‘Mood Ring’ is a skippy track that details unpredictability and emotional instability in a relationship. The track has been heavily supported by the likes of Shortee Blitz & MK, DJ Target and fellow Brum native Lady Leshurr, and it is the perfect dedication to mark the occasion.
As one of the UK’s most dynamic and exhilarating rappers, TrueMendous is incomparable. Her music is packed with statements, a point to prove and a refreshingly undiluted determination to deliver her music, her way. Executing a weighty 17 tracks in its entirety, the album is a complete representation of TrueMendous and without a doubt, her most accomplished body of work to date.
Releasing on the ground-breaking, Brighton based hip-hop label High Focus Records, the album features production from Dirty Dike, Illinformed, Chemo, Wundrop, Mark Fear and more as well as guest vocals from the legendary Masta Ace, Kofi Stone and Rozzz. A selection of tracks has floodlit the way to the album release, starting with the aptly named ‘Cause A Scene’ – a torrent of vigour, razor sharp flows and powerful lyricism that was received by thunderous applause. Sophomore release ‘Worst Child’, a conscious Hip-Hop number demonstrating an introspective side to the Birmingham rapper, followed soon after, premiering with Jack Saunders on BBC Radio 1. Produced by Illinformed, the record was teamed with a visual that captured the heart of London Town, from the iconic venue Chip Shop in Brixton, to outside shots filmed in Camden, TrueMendous showcased the spirit of the city through the transcending backdrops of her enthralling music video.
Continuing to set the standard at stellar levels TrueMendous reached new heights with the double hit of intricately lyrical ‘You Don’t Wanna’, which teased the sleek and soulful ‘Y’ that was released in its entirety a week later.
Marking a prodigious milestone in her accelerating career, TrueMendous displays a new depth to her artistry with the ‘Misdiagnosis of Chyvonne Johnson’. Leaning on the connotations of the title, that also acts as homage to Lauryn Hills’ ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’, the musicality demonstrates the many dimensions to TrueMendous as an artist, which allows her significance as one of the modern-day hip-hop figures to be appreciated in all of its glory.
Preserving a strong presence within the world of Hip Hop over the last seven years and hailed as ‘one to watch out for’ by Akil The MC from the legendary Hip Hop crew Jurassic 5, making her TV debut in the 2020 Christmas Pepsi Max and McVities adverts and landing singles on the Adidas ‘COLD.RDY’ campaign, as well as the FIFA 21 Soundtrack, the career of TrueMendous had already been pinpointed for an exciting year. Shattering the confines of genres, incorporating Hip Hop with Neo-soul, Jazz and Pop, the new 17-track opus delivers on every expectation and more.
With the release adding to an expansive portfolio that spans six independent projects and an EP with High Focus Records, her work rate is equally impressive outside of the studio too. In 2019 she secured an impressive 11 festivals slots, including Glastonbury, Leeds and Reading where she opened up on the BBC 1Xtra stage. Through the course of her career, she has also performed at 10 venues across Atlanta and North Carolina, which includes opening up the UK stage at A3C Festival in Atlanta. She has also graced the Lovebox lineup and performed at the likes of Gloucester’s ‘King’s Jam’ festival, Chip Shop in Brixton and both Exit and Sea Dance Festival, which took place in Novi Sad, Serbia and Montenegro. She was also one of the leading artists on the ‘Queens of Art’ tour and it was the first ever UK all female hip hop tour, which was later covered by the BBC.
Presenting a truly unique body of work, TrueMendous lends her distinctive flow and a sound layered with precision, to an amalgamation of fiery, raw, soulful and weighted bars that are seasoned immaculately with powerful lyricism and unrelenting production. The result is a celebration of hip-hop culture with contemporary understanding applied and an album that will be filed alongside the greats for years to come.
New Lease Music 