There are some incredible black artists, based in London, that we expect to see doing bigger and bigger things this year. They are all young, emerging talent across a range of amazing genres, and it is going to be their year. Here are 10 artists that you should be keeping your eyes and ears on in 2022.
Darkoo (@darkoo)
Darkoo’s rap career started to blow up when the video for “Gangsta” started picking up. The video has reached 28 million views on YouTube and the now 20-year-old has since released 10 singles with nearly 4 million monthly Spotify listeners. Darkoo is certainly not a one-genre kind of artist, as she drops in and out of afrobeat, R&B, drill, and rap. Her rise to fame has already begun, but we expect her to reach new heights this year with her rapidly growing fanbase.
Check out her music here.
Dexter (@dexterinthenewsagent)
Whilst we were all doing zoom quizzes in lockdown, Dexter was starting her music career. The pandemic caused a surge in bedroom pop, and this artist is a perfect example of that. Instead of focusing on her A levels, she focused on making dreamy pop, which resulted in her first EP release, ‘I Do Love A Good Sandwich’ in 2021. Taking huge influence from Rex Orange County, Dexter writes the perfect, easy-Sunday songs, and this is just the start for her.
Check out her music here.
Kam-Bu (@kamb_u)
Emerging UK rap artist, Kam-Bu released his debut EP, ‘Black on Black’ last year, which was extremely well-received. The rapper’s mature lyricism has grabbed lots of attention as he discusses sustainability and the future of the world as we know it. Kam-Bu, now 24, started rapping at 13 at a South-London youth centre and is now creating music that is influenced by grime and soul with lyrical influence coming from reggae.
Check out his music here.
Nippa (@nippa.ad)
Tottenham’s fresh upcoming R&B artist is set for a good year following ‘Squeezin’ Ya’ which was produced whilst he was working at an investment bank. The song started gaining traction, urging the singer to continue making chill R&B beats accompanied by his effortlessly smooth vocals. Nippa prides himself on strong hooks and catchy melodies which is something we can definitely agree with, setting him up for what looks like a successful year ahead.
Check out his music here.
Sherelle (@sherelle_)
Female DJs are on the rise, and Sherelle will be rising with them. Jungle/Drum and Bass DJ is gaining attention at a crazy speed for her bouncing sets. After being 2021’s most in-demand DJ, she went on to produce her own debut EP which she released last year. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, Sherelle set up her own label called ‘BEAUTIFUL’ which celebrates black electronic music. Is there anything she can’t do?! It will be no surprise if she is one of the biggest UK DJs by the end of 2022. Mark our words.
Check out her music here.
Clavish (@clavish)
Clavish, a North London rapper set himself in good stead for the year ahead with his EP, ‘2022’ released at the end of last year. It’s literally named after the year, if that doesn’t say something, we don’t know what does. With 350,000 monthly Spotify listeners, Clavish is set to climb the UK rap ladder this year. His rap style sets him apart from the crowd, laying purposeful lyrics on top of moody piano and guitar tracks.
Check out his music here.
Enny (@ennyintegrity)
The 2020 single, ‘Peng Black Girls’ by Enny became popular when it was remixed with Jorja Smith on the ColorsxStudios YouTube channel. The lyrics show appreciation to black women and the beauty they hold, as Enny says, “Black women are beautiful. They don’t get told that enough”. Since then, the female rapper has released a 7-track album, ‘Under Twenty-Five’ which consists of chilled rap verses, groovy instrumentation and stunning ensemble-style, layered vocals with heavenly harmonies. It really is the best of both worlds.
Check out her music here.
Samm Henshaw (@sammhenshaw)
London soul singer, Samm Henshaw is set to drop his debut album sometime this month and we cannot wait. His funk, soul and jazz inspired music makes for joyous tunes that are explorative and fun. Samm’s sound is a laid-back unique fusion and will add some uplifting variation to your 2022 playlist. With a distinctive, soulful vocal tone and effortlessly flawless vocals, Henshaw will likely see his already strong fanbase increasing ten-fold this year.
Check his music out here.
Alewya (@alewya11)
Previously scouted as a model, 26-year-old singer/songwriter Alewya began making music following a heartbreak. Her energetically experimental music is completely unique and there is no-one else quite like her. ‘Spirit_X’ her popular single which went on to be part of her EP, ‘Panther in Mode’, captures the adrenaline inducing sounds of the rave and varied range of drum and bass beats throughout. Alewya is constantly surprising us with new genre blends, stepping outside the boundaries out of what is expected from modern artists. We can’t wait to see what she has in store this year.
Check out her music here.
ShaSimone (@shasimone)
ShaSimone, an East-London based singer/rapper recently featured on Dave’s 2021 album ‘We’re All Alone in This Together’. She collaborated with James Blake and Dave on the track, ‘Both Sides of a Smile’, which kickstarted her already developing music career. The glamorous rapper has since released ‘Hushpuppi’, a booming club beat topped off with some slick money-making bars. We think we’re witnessing the start of what is going to be a hugely successful career for ShaSimone. Watch this space.
Check out her music here.
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