Emerging artists killing it: (loosely) Hip Hop/RnB

It baffles me that Liv.e (pronounced ‘Liv’) is only a year older than me. This July, at the ripe age of 22, she released her debut album Couldn’t Wait To Tell You…, that is aptly described a collection of diverse, expectation-defying snapshots of Liv.e’s mind. Recorded in only a month, she herself said “It’s like each song is a different character giving a page out of their diary.” Having toured with Earl Sweatshirt last year, as well as featuring in Erykah Badu’s online quarantine concert series, Liv.e’s adventurous and unboxable approach to her music has already been turning heads.

I love the creativity that shines across this album. Having read her outlook in interviews, her originality as well as her spontaneous approach to art became even more apparent. When asked about the abrupt transitions between songs on the album, she remarks “gotta keep people awake”. Also, the title of the album is supposed to be read as the first half of all the song titles – genius!

Lex Amor released her debut project Government Tropicana in September; a vulnerable and introspective, yet confident, dive into her origins and life up to this point. Throughout this home-recorded “100% DIY album”, Lex flows over smooth and enchanting beats produced by her friends. The homegrown nature of her work ties in with the personal story told throughout – an exploration of Lex’s Nigerian roots and upbringing in London:

“Government Tropicana is the story of first-generation working-class London; an attempt to articulate the nuance of my lived experience”

Lex Amor, London In Stereo article

As raw and exciting talent coming out of the UK, I definitely recommend giving Lex Amor some attention!

Australian rapper and singer Tkay released the second volume of her Last Year Was Weird trilogy this summer. She showcases her vast capabilities to produce quality songs, from the anthemic and warm hip hop opening My Flowers, to the hard-hitting bassy Awake with JPEGMAFIA, and the smooth funk of the closing track Don’t Call Again. Tkay glides from providing glimmering vocals to striking rap verses, resulting in an EP that leaves you wanting more.

With a two-year gap between this second instalment and the one that preceded it, it is clear that Tkay has grown and blossomed. In an interview with Anthony Fantano, Tkay expresses how she wanted to achieve a “happy medium of smooth and low-key songs but also still having a lot of energy in a live setting”. Looking ahead to the third instalment of the EP series, she reveals that number three goes into another world, and the evolution throughout the trilogy will be clear. I can’t wait to hear it!