November Rundown – Favourite Picks of the Month (UK Edition)

November was nothing short of drama, at the same time there was some good music in the form of singles, albums, EP’s and mixtapes. Let me take you through some of my favourites of the month from the UK (in no particular order).

Abra Cadabra

• My favourite songs: Spin This Coupe, Show Me
• Project: Pre-released singles off the ‘Product Of My Environment’ mixtape (to be released).   

Abra Cadabra is definitely back after taking some time off and definitely hasn’t missed this year. His previous releases of ‘Baby’, ‘Cadabra Freestyle’ and ‘On Deck’ (which is definitely one of my favourite songs to come out this year) has fuelled the momentum of his third project which may also be one of the best to come out from the UK too. These tracks have a polished yet eerie sound which brings out his ability to make his voice commanding on a track. I’m certain he’s going to display his versatility on his upcoming project with dancehall and afro-inspired melodies.

Scribz Riley

• My favourite songs: Impress Me (feat. Headie One), Mandy & Introduce Myself (KWN & JADA)
• Project: Wish Me Luck

I had seen Scribz Riley’s name over some music pages on the internet but never actually heard his music before. The ‘Riley’ part to his name started to make me feel like I may have come across him before and I was right as I found out he is the brother of Talay Riley, who famously featured on Chip’s (formerly Chipmunk) song ‘Look For Me’ amongst many of his own songs. Scribz Riley’s project revolves around the sounds of R&B, hip-hop and rap whilst drawing song writing inspiration from gospel music too. He has blended these various sounds effortlessly and it’s no wonder he’s a two-time Grammy award winner as a producer and songwriter. ‘Impress Me’ (feat. Headie One), ‘Mandy’ and ‘Introduce Myself’ (feat. KWN & JADA)’ are my takes off the album, all with different sounds and themes.

Odeal

My favourite songs: Something, Answer Me, Composure 2

Project: OVMBR: Roses

Odeal has been releasing songs as early as 2016 (and probably even before then) and is an example of timing and patience when it comes to perfecting your craft. Earlier in the year, he featured on Abra Cadabra’s EP (Love Or Lust) on the track ‘On&On’ and more recently Nines’s album (Crabs In A Bucket) on the track ‘Ringaling’. Prior to releasing OVMBR: Roses, his solo debut project, he released a summer banger entitled ‘More Life’. Odeal’s project boasts many genres including afrobeats, garage, rap, dance and the slow heartfelt R&B tunes he has made in previous years which he has become much associated with. Odeal is definitely bringing something to the UK scene and is definitely a future star in the making.

K-Trap

My favourite songs: The whole album

Project: Street Side Effects (Album)

K-Trap is an artist that I was previously following subconsciously: I would listen to his music anytime he released, but never followed his journey closely. After watching his interview with Amarudon TV and getting an insight into the way he thinks about life, money and relationships with others I started paying more attention to him. Although my initial favourites on the album were ‘New Opp Block’ (feat. Abra Cadabra), ‘Probably’ (feat. Blade Brown) and ‘Pour It Up (feat. M1llionz)’, the consistency throughout the album is a lot for me to pick a couple favourites. Each song comes with different flows and themes distinctive to the tracks before, making this album one of my favourites to come out this year.

Pa Salieu

My favourite singles: My Family (feat. Backroad Gee), Block Boy, Informa (feat. M1llionz), Betty

Project: Send Them To Coventry

When ‘Frontline’ came out at end of last year, he naturally drew comparisons to J Hus due to the similarity in their vocals. J Hus didn’t feel no way about that and rather encouraged Pa Salieu on social media. Since then, you could hear the difference in their music styles: J Hus generally making more upbeat and feelgood tracks, whilst Pa Salieu generally makes music with gritty storylines. However, they both delve deep into their African (Gambian) roots when it comes to their beats. This is a very good debut mixtape (which has an album feel) and the replay value here is massive as Pa Salieu has a track for all kinds of music listeners.

Mnelia

Favourite songs: On&On, Ro’s Lullaby & Shoot

Project: After 6 (EP)

I heard ‘Say Yeah’ quite a few times in some videos online and around social media but never found out who sang it until I came across this EP in my ‘Listen Now’ on Apple Music and I wasn’t disappointed. Mnelia’s 4 track EP has a serene yet emotional feel to it making it a good choice for a late-night drive (if you’re in that mood lool). Mnelia has previously featured on projects of the likes of 23 and has also released a project to prior to the After 6 EP. She’s definitely on her way to carving her own lane in the UK R&B so if you’re an R&B lover check it out!

Loski

My favourite songs: Basil Brush, Captain Hook, Naija Man, On Me, Life’s So Deep

Project: Music, Trial & Trauma: A Drill Story (Album)

This album is one of the clearly constructed albums of the year. It begins firstly with the drill tracks we’ve known Loski to do since Harlem Spartan days, including features of Harlem Spartan members such as MizOrMac (‘On Me’) and Blanco (‘Anglo Saxon’). The second part of the album has a bubblier and more polished feel with songs that have a radio or commercial appeal such as ‘Avengers’ (feat. Fredo &Popcaan) and ‘Naija Man’ (featuring. Davido). Finally, the third part of the album possesses a soul-searching and introspective finish, with a story-telling rap that you can envision a video in the style of Rapman on ‘Life So Deep’, which features Emeli Sandé. This album shows Loski’s growth over the last couple of years and you can tell the amount of effort gone into producing it, and he’s keen to prevent any setbacks from happening like in the past to hinder his continual progress.

NSG

Song: Kate Winslet (featuring Unknown T)

Project: Single

NSG have had a good year with their debut mixtape ‘Roots’ (their previous project being a debut EP entitled ‘Grown Up’, which blends their African heritage in the genres of afrobeat, highlife and afrofusion with western sounds such as UK rap (e.g in ‘Nonsense’ which features Chip) and even some elements of Jazz (e.g. in ‘Lupita’). The video for ‘Kate Winslet’ was shot and filmed in Ghana, features Unknown T who displays his versatility showing that he can do other genres and not just drill. This was a creative linkup and maybe sooner or later NSG might try their take on drill? Who knows but this is one of the hardest tracks of November.

Youngs Teflon – Call Of Duty 3

My favourite songs: Alpo (feat. K-Trap), Coldharbour, Lil’ Baby, Misery and Rule of Two (with Dave).

Project: Call of Duty 3 (Mixtape)

If you’re not careful, the wordplay of Youngs Teflon may go over your head whether it’s a simple or sophisticated line. He’s certainly one of those rappers that make you think after a song as he is able to fuse many themes into one song. Youngs Teflon makes a trilogy of the Call of Duty series and invites rappers such as K-Trap, RV, Tiny Boost and Dave onto the mixtape. Youngs Teflon has been consistent with dropping music over the years (with some tapes I myself even need to go back on) and I hope we get some music videos for some of the tracks on the tape. This may be a street favourite in time.

One Acen

Song: Parlé (feat Dré Six)

Project: Single

One Acen comes with a flyboy energy on this track which features Dré Six, a member of the 6ixxers. Despite One Acen only releasing three tracks this year (‘Nigeria’, a tribute to his homeland and ‘Fugazi’, an acoustic guitar backed track that talks about how fake girls and guys can be), they have all been quality tracks even if numbers don’t show it.  The visuals of ‘Parlé’ (meaning speak in French) transition between the block and Central London, reflecting the difference between home and where the ‘high-life’ is. Maybe next year we can expect a body of work from One Acen.

Rimzee

Song: Xabsi (feat. M24)

Project: Pre-released single off the Upper Clapton 2 mixtape

Real rap is in full effect this year again – Nines and Potter Payper all making a chart- topping album and mixtape respectively. And Rimzee is also part of them, who had a powerful start to 2020 with his ‘Voice of the Streets’ freestyle and has kept his momentum throughout the year. On ‘Xabsi’, joined by M24, Rimzee shows his ability to narrate his pain on a track is unmatched as he allows you to form your own imagery of the life that he has come from and even gives lessons, which are worth taking something from as he served almost 7 years in jail. I’ll be anticipating ‘Upper Clapton 2’ when it releases.

Eskaeé

Song: Agenda

Project: Single

South London’s Eskaeé has been rapping as early as secondary school days experimenting with various sounds. However, he took time off to perfect his craft and sound and it seems like he is here to stay. ‘Nice Things’ was released earlier this year and it describes his taste for the finer things in life which come with a high work rate. On ‘Agenda’, he isn’t looking to change the minds of girls who think “men are trash” but he’d rather let them step into his world and show them what he’s about. Eskaeé delivers a catchy hook with a skippy flow on a beat enriched with vocal samples that makes his track standout. Keep your eyes peeled for him in the months to come.