Many an hour was spent on group video chat App Houseparty in those early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, and for most, this was simply a way to fill the seemingly interminable lockdown we found ourselves immersed in. However, for rap duo A1 x J1, the platform actually served as the impetus for their life-changing connection.
Meeting on the app for the first time, 17-year-old North-West Londoner A1 and 19-year-old Kent artist J1 began honing their rap synergy remotely, before bursting onto UK airwaves with debut single “Latest Trends” in 2021.
Now boasting over four million monthly Spotify listeners and juggernaut collabs with the likes of Tion Wayne, the pair return once again with some serious intent on “Man On A Mission”, accompanied by a video set in the mesmeric landscapes of the Peak District. Featuring animal friends in the form of huskies and a horse ridden by collaborator SL, they present a slick, fashion-forward aesthetic to match their inimitable bars.
Styled by Aga Dziedzic (Kojey Radical, AJ Tracey, Wes Nelson), brands spanning archival Stone Island, Timberland, CP, and Jacquemus are seen sported by the boys in the finished product. Find a full run down of the garms they donned right now, below.
