Niall Smith
JayaHadADream: the introspective rap storyteller turning aspiration into reality
A year on from winning Glastonbury’s Emerging Talent Competition, this former criminology teacher is delivering genre-hopping excellence and racking up recognition in the grime scene
Tyler, The Creator – ‘Don’t Tap The Glass’ review: a fun disco-rap rewind rooted in hip-hop history
His ninth record is a surprise drop and a crate-digging party project that favours feel over formula
Jim Legxacy – ‘Black British Music (2025)’ review: triumph lives next to trauma on this unmissable mixtape
The south London artist hopscotches effortlessly through genres, turning his third full-length project into his most compelling work to date
Ghais Guevara: “We live in an anti-intellectual world. Rap, at its core, is intellectual. I want to bridge that gap”
The underground hip-hop firestarter talks waving the flag for Philadelphia and balancing his critiques with celebration on debut album ‘Goyard Ibn Said’
SuperJazzClub: West Africa’s genre-bending wizards taking UK festivals by storm
With their new EP 'Monochrome Radio', the six-piece encapsulate the breadth of Ghana's rich cultural diaspora
Tems – ‘Born In The Wild’ album review: soulful, spiritual and self-assured
From Highlife to hip-hop, this stunning debut exemplifies West Africa's rich musical diversity via Tems' fluid approach to genre
Afro-dancehall pioneer Ruger on his debut ‘RU The World’: “I didn’t hold anything back”
The Lagos artist – born Michael Adebayo – envisions a free-flowing and experimental world of sound as Ruger
J Hus – ‘Beautiful and Brutal Yard’ review: a triumphant summer blast
On his third album – and first since 2020 – the British-Gambian star taps Drake, Burna Boy and more for a scattershot burst of brilliance
Strandz: bold, uncompromising rap star with the world at his feet
Inspired by his '00s rap heroes, the 'Us Against The World' hitmaker moves with impressive flair between sounds
Mount Westmore – ‘Snoop, Cube, 40, $hort’ review: rap supergroup overstuffed with ideas and personalities
The hip-hop veterans unite for a muddled, but sometimes brilliant, cruise down Sunset Boulevard
Nas – ‘King’s Disease III’ review: hip-hop great delivers compelling conclusion to his album trilogy
The final instalment of the ‘King’s Disease’ series houses punchy Hit-Boy beats that are purpose-built for the New York wordsmith’s dynamic rhymes
Lil Baby – ‘It’s Only Me’ review: a few notches shy of greatness
The sprawling 23-track collection – starring Young Thug and more – shows flashes of the Atlantan star’s finest, and most tedious, traits