Wonderland.

WONDERLIST

From slick drill cuts to consuming electronica and the return of one of America’s best MCs, it’s a grandstand Wonderlist this week!

Photography by Reef Rounding

Photography by Reef Rounding

Headie One – “More Money More Problems”

Undeniably one of the biggest names in UK rap, Headie One returns once again to bless us with a classy drill cut. Accompanied by a video that flaunts the rapper’s lavish lifestyle, Headie is in good form atop a sharp, sample-driven beat, sending shots to opps and reflecting on his come up, offering up with slick flows in the process.

Kali Uchis ft. El Alfa and JT – “Muñekita”

Grammy winning singer-songwriter Kali Uchis is amongst the hottest artists on the planet, without question. Having received huge acclaim for March’s Red Moon In Venus LP, she is back with a new stylistic approach, and sounds all the better for it. Beginning a new era of Spanish language-driven cuts, Uchis taps in Dominican rapper El Alfa and JT from City Girls for a playful and proactive effort, “Muñekita”.

Fred again ft. Obongjayar – “adore u”

It’s Fred, again! It’s been quite the summer for the increasingly acclaimed producer, with his critically acclaimed LP Actual Life 3 being nominated for the 2023 Mercury Prize putting the cherry atop his triumphant Glasto set. No rest for the wicked though, Fred is straight back to it, linking up with the impressive Obongjayar for a kaleidoscopic and meticulous single “adore u”, a track that measures delicacy with depth in typical Fred fashion.

Noname – Sundial

One of the greatest, and perhaps most underrated, MCs hailing from the US has returned, and we are simply ecstatic. Noname is back with a fresh, thought provoking, and shit talking LP Sundial. It’s condensed, charisma-laden and expertly crafted, with a blockbuster array of features, from Jay Electronica to billy woods, combining acutely with Noname. One of the most understated and lyrically refined projects of the year to date.

Khakikid – “sand bebé”

It’s been a good summer for Irish rap! Genre-merging Dublin trailblazer Khakikid has shared his new EP “sand bebé”, and it’s an immersive and impressive body of work. From indie-leaning anthems to subdued, mellow rap, there’s something for everyone across the five-pronged tape. One to watch, for sure!

Master Peace – “LOO SONG”

Resident indie rager Master Peace has been on our radar for a while now, and continues to impress with each passing release. Showcasing an artistic progression like few others, his newest single “LOO SONG” is a lighthearted, chant-inducing track with touches of Britpop and noughties indie, with Peace flaunting his cheeky charm and musical nuance in abudance.

Jelani Blackman – “When You Feel It”

Amongst the finest rising rappers in the UK, London’s Jelani Blackman boasts an impressive array of past collaborators, and an even more impressive presence on the mic. Returning with a new atmospheric number, “When You Feel It”, we continue to see the talent and vision of Blackman, with this new single heavy on bass-driven, booming tones and lyrically visual imagery.

BZ – “Trust Issues”

Known for his forward thinking blend of afro and rap tendencies, hotly tipped South London rapper BZ is back with another progressive cut in the form of “Trust Issues”. Playing on old school hip hop and R&B conventions, BZ rides the jumpy instrumental with ease and character, spinning a story of trust issues in love, life and humanity.

Creeper – “Teenage Sacrifice”

Creeper are the band bringing a different energy to the industry. With influences as wide ranging as Sisters of Mercy to Nick Cave, there’s a gothic edge to the consuming sound and imagery of the band. Back with a new single, “Teenage Sacrifice”, which is plucked from their October set new LP, Creeper terrify and entertain in equal measure. The riff-heavy track is accompanied by one of the most idiosyncratic visuals you are likely to see this year.

Yo Gotti – “Pop My Shit”

US heavyweight rapper Yo Gotti comes fresh from his brand new Gangsta Grillz mixtape ‘I Showed U So’ alongside the legendary DJ Drama — the long-awaited follow-up to the pairs Gangsta Grillz project, I Told U So, released in 2006. Continuing momentum, the Memphis-native has just dropped a sleek set of visuals for “Pop My Shit”, filmed during his visit to London. With several multiplatinum and gold studio albums, mixtapes and singles already under his belt, Gotti continues to prove himself as a legendary figure within the US rap game.

Piers James – “If This Ain’t Real”

One of the most exciting voices in the rap landscape, Piers James continues to display blossoming authenticity across his high-calibre cut “If This Ain’t Real”. Intertwining hip hop, reggae and dancehall to magnetic effect, the rising artist, rapper and producer effortlessly flaunts an unshakeable flair. His words gliding with a stylish, bright-eyed cadence that perfectly encapsulates the sultry summer vibrations reflected in the self-shot and produced video. With genuinely feel-good flavours shining front and centre, Piers’ latest cut is just a glimpse into what’s to come from a rare homegrown talent able to curate every aspect of his artistic output.

Karol G — Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season)

Karol G’s new album is here! The Colombian-born, Miami-based singer-songwriter teased the project with the hit single “S91”, an empowering anthem that has captivated listeners globally. Now, fans are in for a real treat. Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season) is a multi-faceted and diverse album that blends influences across pop, reggaeton, trap, bachata, dembow, and hip hop into a dynamic yet cohesive sound of her own. Take a listen, you’ll become obsessed!

Kwaku Asante — “Inside Out”

UK singer Kwaku Asante’s new track, “Inside Out”, is truly beautiful inside and out. The fourth and final release from his forthcoming project “Blue Solstice Volume 2”, it combines influences of R&B, pop, soul, and funk for a Motown-infused delight. Sounding similar to how a daydream feels, it is a poetic and hypnotic feel-good track that’s perfect for these sweet, sunny summer days. With Asante’s lovely vocals layering on top of the nostalgic soundscape, “Inside Out” is as luscious as ever.

METTE — “VAN GOGH”

METTE’s new single “VAN GOGH” is an infectious, upbeat offering that blends dance-pop, funk, and R&B influences into one incredible track. Produced by Lattimer and Mike Sabath, it tells the story of finding creative inspiration through a muse and comes with a stunning music video that reminds us of METTE’s dance and choreography expertise. Combining her plethora of artistic talents, she creates a world of her own that is easy to get completely sucked into. And lucky for us, there’s more coming. “VAN GOGH” comes ahead of the artist’s forthcoming EP, “METTENARRATIVE”, which will be out on September 22.

S Dog — “B22s”

Bradford’s rising star S Dog has a new single, “B22s”! Produced by Sheffield producer Toddla T, it serves as the second taste of S Dog’s upcoming EP. An ode to his favourite shoes, the Christian Dior B22, it brings together an infectious beat and clever lyrics to something truly larger-than-life.

Maya Law — “6AM”

A poignant portrayal of a night spent intoxicated, Maya Law’s new release is something special. Titled “6AM”, it touches on themes of desire and betrayal through a perfect blend of soul, jazz, and R&B. With luscious vocals and intimate, confessional-style lyrics, it is utterly captivating. “It’s much more of a story than a song for me,” explains Law. “I wanted people to listen, read between the lines, and be able to work out what had happened. It’s the first time I’ve written from someone else’s point of view, and tried to fill in the gaps of a situation I wasn’t sure about.”

Oscar Scheller — “Dumb”

Oscar Scheller’s new single “Dumb” comes with a very exciting announcement: his fourth studio album Coming of Age will be released this October. A story about a crush, the track touches on the early stages of a romance and the emotions and infatuation that come with it. It’s a nostalgic, fun track that evokes youthful, sometimes foolish happiness and feels like early 2000s movie scores. It’s a pure treat and will have you going down memory lane.

Izzi De-Rosa — “loverboi”

Rising British pop artist Izzi De-Rosa has a new single and accompanying music video! Titled “loverboi” the pure pop anthem marks a bold new chapter for De-Rosa, previously known for her indie singer-songwriter releases. And it’s a chapter we’re thrilled to embark upon with her! The video, creative directed by studio inside out, really brings the track to life with a Y2K-infused portrayal of falling for someone new. Speaking on the track, Izzi explains: “‘loverboi’ is really special to me cos I feel like it marks the beginning of a completely new and authentic era in my music career.”

caro♡ — “from the heart <3”

Along with an announcement for her sophomore album wild at <3, London-based artist and producer caro♡ has dropped a new single, “from the heart <3”. As the first song plucked from the upcoming album, it sets the stage for the project and gets us super excited for its September 8 release date. “To me it somehow resumes the emotional journey I’ve taken for the past two years,” explains caro♡. “It starts as this melancholic and nostalgic melody, then it hits and it sounds to me like how deep pain hits and confuses you, you feel like maybe you’ve lost everything and that you’re the only one who can get you out of this ordeal, you feel quite isolated, then there’s a brief respite where time sort of floats, and then all the way to the end is the ascension towards something greater, the gathering of strength. It’s like an eagle spreading its wings which were once broken.” Utterly breathtaking.

Joey Maxwell — “hollowing out”

South London’s Joey Maxwell is back with his first release of the year! Explosive guitars and drums provide the perfect musical backdrop to the artist’s distinctive storytelling ability and captivating vocals. In a journey of self-discovery, he touches on ideas of self-doubt, invalidating oneself, and learning how to live with these feelings and carry on with life. Emotional and powerful, it’s bound to enchant you from start to finish.