Song of the Day: L’s – Nemzzz

Lifted from his first mixtape ‘DO NOT DISTURB’, arriving on 15th March 2024, the new titan of UK Rap NEMZZZ gives the first taste from 11-track project with single ‘L’S’, produced by Zel & Aifo.

Over a relaxed drill beat shimmering with keys and smoky sax notes, Nemzzz reflects on his losses and how he holds his head above the noise of being a rising star in the industry. ‘L’S’ is the first glimpse of the ‘DO NOT DISTURB’ mixtape concept, an exploration of how the young artist is shaped by his upbringing and his fame. ‘L’s’ is accompanied with a slick video shot entirely on 16mm film by frequent collaborators DON Productions. The fresh visual splices footage of Nemzzz at home with friends in Manchester with shots of him in London roaming around the city.

The ‘DO NOT DISTURB’ tape follows a massive 2023 for the young star with a consistent slate of releases including his debut EP Nemzzz Type Beat (which was pulled together in just 17 days in a flex of his innate talents) alongside a string of singles including ‘Therapy’ (Spotify Rap UK Cover), ‘MONEY & VIBES’ (A list at 1Xtra, over +1M streams a week) and ‘8AM IN MANNY’ which landed to props from some of the biggest rappers in the world – Drake and Lil Yachty. Last year saw Nemzzz deliver his first sold-out headline tour alongside performances at festivals including Glastonbury, Ibiza Rocks and more.

Nemzzz is one of the most exciting breakout rap talents of recent years, the rapper is characterised by his ear for leftfield beats and his unique flow. The rapper is shaped by his tough upbringing in Gorton, using his music to reflect on his experiences in Manchester and his mental health struggles.

Since bursting onto the scene at the tender age of 14, he has relentlessly chipped away at his craft – building steady buzz amongst the industry, media and fans alike. With over 180 million combined streams in 2023, mine million TikTok views, tips including BBC Radio 1xtra’s Hot For 2023, Amazon Music x Hunger Magazine Ones To Watch, No Signal Class of ’23, Best Newcomer Nominee MOBO Awards 2022, plaudits from Pitchfork, The Face, DAZED, The Guardian, HYPEBEAST, CLASH, Complex UK and NME – Nemzzz is making serious moves. Check out the video for L’s below…

Rapper/singer Alex Luke unveils debut EP, ‘Star Projector’.

Manchester’s soulful singer, rapper and producer ALEX LUKE‘s debut EP ‘Star Projector’, effortlessly blends soulful melodies, intricate rap flows, funk stylings, and Luke’s signature horns. The self-produced project has been three years in the making and is a triumphant showcase of authenticity and versatility.

The EP’s uniqueness extends to an additional four personalised voice note recordings, offering an intimate window into the artist’s life and the stories behind the music. Additionally, three official music videos, including the emotionally charged ‘DNA,’ shot by Sophia J Carey (Loyle Carner, Little Simz), bring Luke’s vision to life.

In a poignant tribute to his late brother, who passed away in 2015, Alex sought solace in the embrace of music, adopting his brother’s middle name, ‘Luke’ as a timeless tribute to his memory.

His musical journey has been marked by unwavering dedication, earning recognition from The Ivors Academy, BBC Radio Introducing Manchester, Spotify Fresh Finds UK + IE, Amazing radio and praise from Jamz Supernova. Independently, Luke has achieved remarkable milestones, selling out his last three headline shows in Manchester and securing support slots across the UK (including acts like Jahméne and Mamas Gun), and taking the stage at local festivals like Dot To Dot and Indie Week. As a testament to his growing success, Luke is set to headline a thrilling show on March 29th, 2024, at Manchester’s iconic Deaf Institute (tickets on sale now).

Alex Luke’s ‘Star Projector EP’ establishes his mark on the music scene, showcasing his undeniable talent and creative vision. Have a listen below…

Must Listens: Remember Me, DNA

Alex Luke releases track DNA + video ahead of EP

Manchester’s soulful ALEX LUKE delves deep into personal battles in his latest release ‘DNA’, blending intricate rap flows and soulful melodies.

Alex Luke spills his heart about the estranged relationship with his father, in this introspective and soulful hip-hop triumph. Featuring an emotionally powerful chorus, sung by Hayley Brown, the self produced track is a testament to Luke’s authenticity and versatility as an artist. From the live drums placed deep in the pocket, to the self recorded brass arrangements, Alex Luke has ingrained the purest reflection of himself into ‘DNA’.

In the accompanying emotional performance video shot by Sophia J Carey (Loyle Carner, Little Simz), Luke captures the raw emotion of the track, through painting lyrical references onto canvas, giving a poignant glimpse into the turbulent narrative of ‘DNA’.

Alex Luke’s self-produced EP ‘Star Projector’ lands November 17th, setting the stage for a thrilling headline show on March 29th 2024 (with support from Dámì Sule), at Manchester’s iconic Deaf Institute

Check out the video for ‘DNA’ below…

Illerstate come through with rampant joint ‘Mirroring’

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With the heavy, grime-esque bass running riot from the start of Manchester’s hip-hop collective ILLERSTATE‘s new banger, ‘Mirroring’, it’s hard not the take notice. The rampant bass is immediately topped off by the raw, razor sharp flow, which makes it so satisfyingly good.

Illerstate’s distinctive mixture of aggressive melodies, heavy bass and metal guitar has hailed them as legends in the Manchester’s hip-hop scene. They’ve also gained a solid fan base throughout the UK, receiving support from notable music makers such as DJ Semtex.

‘Mirroring’ was released yesterday (8th September) via Mr. Jone’s label, Manchester Music Group. Mr. Jones was previous featured on the blog with tracks, ‘You’, ‘Brand New’ and more recently, ‘Laid-back.’

Check out ‘Mirroring’ below…

Vibez Shares His Debut Mini-Set, ‘Midnight Tales’

Fresh off the back of radio support by Angelle Joseph on BBC 1Xtra, Holly Sarah on SG1 Radio, and a fitting live performance at Nothing But Vibes, Manchester based and self-styled “Afro-Chill” artist VIBEZ releases his captivating debut EP, ‘Midnight Tales’, wearing his Nigerian heritage on the sleeve!

Warm, atmospheric production courtesy of SteveRawd (Hips Don’t Lie), and Dannyebtracks (Frequency & On Me), driven heavily by sonics of African origin, provides the perfect backdrop for VibeZ to depict a scene and provoke a relaxed feel-good energy in listeners throughout the EP. This debut effort proves he has a penchant for providing the essential summer records.

‘Midnight Tales’, released last Friday (14th July), marks another exciting milestone in VibeZ’ solo career. Prepare to witness his career flourish in 2023 and beyond! Have a listen below…

Must Listens: Frequency, Hips Don’t Lie