大象传媒

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UK R&B is in a strong place of late and North London's Bellah is more than capable of carrying the mantle, following in the footsteps of fellow singers, Ella Mai, Nao and last year's Hot For alumni Ling Hussle.

Her second EP, 'The Art of Conversation' showcases, in her words, a more mature sound and features songs such as the don't-mess-with-my-heart 'Something U Like' and fan favourite 'Cause U Can', which explores her experiences of living with sickle cell anaemia. 2021 has seen Bellah continue to make big waves especially with the release of her single ‘Supernova’ - an ode to the love she has for her mother.

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Born in the sunny climes of Trinidad & Tobago, raised in the urban jungle that is East London, singer/rapper Berwyn has an eclectic overview and tone in his unique style of music.

With collabs with Tottenham's very own Headie One and an appearance on Later with Jools Holland, plus a debut mixtape, 'VEGA' released early in 2020 and a second mixtape on the way, not to mention the ethereal 'Trap Phone' and haunting 'Vinyl', Berwyn kicked off 2021 in a big way as he was ranked third in 大象传媒’s Sound of 2021 - further cementing the vow that 2021 will be a big year for him.

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You can't help but get excited about the 22-year-old rapper, Central Cee. 'Versatile' and 'distinct' are just some of the descriptions thrown his way about his delivery and flow.

With co-signs from both sides of the pond - we're talking Dave to Big Sean - plus some pretty impressive freestyles - Central Cee is certified here to stay. In March this year, Central Cee released his debut mixtape 'Wild West', which debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart and number one on the UK RnB Albums Chart.

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What is there not to say about Ivorian Doll? The Hackney-raised queen lit up 2020 with her various freestyles (anyone see her GRM Daily Duppy?!) and videos, taking on dons of the drill and grime worlds – with ease.

But she's not new to this. A seasoned YouTuber from her uni days, Ivorian Doll took her music career to the next level during the 2020 lockdown with the release of 'Rumours', 'Body Bay' - and did we mention her Daily Duppy? Destined for big things in 2021, this year has seen her team up with Disturbing London x Tinie x Yxng Bane x Poundz in an electric supergroup-esque style collabo for the single 'Drip'.

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One thing we can say is that UK rap from the ladies is in a good space. Step forward pocket rocket 21-year-old Lavida Loca. A global upbringing - born in Malawi, early childhood in Nottingham and formative years in and around London - has shaped her music and lyricism.

While life (as they say) got in the way, Lavida had to press pause for a bit on her music career but has bounced back with a renewed energy upon her release and has been going from strength-to-strength with seminal freestyles on 1Xtra's very own Kenny Allstar's Voice of the Streets. 2021; Lavida Loca is not letting up, it's yours for the taking sis!

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When your name comes from Greek god mythology – from King Midas and everything he touches turning to gold – it comes as no surprise that Midas The Jagaban is shining brightly and illuminating the music scene. She says: "I have a sound but with the music I make, there are a lot of influences and I am not on the same beat each time, but every beat I am in it turns to gold."

Creating the Tik Tok favourite , 'Party With A Jagaban' and releasing her EP 'Midas Touch' in 2020, plus taking influence from African giants including Burna Boy and WizKid, as well as the otherworldly sounds of Billie Eilish and Lana Del Rey, Midas The Jagaban plans to be a formidable force for many years to come.

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With the roots of his music deeply in the afro-fusion category, the Port Harcourt native, born Stanley Omah Didia - more commonly known as Omah Lay - started his career in a rap group before segueing to music production.

Returning to the mic, Lay dropped his debut EP, 'Get Layd' this year which garnered rave reviews and head nods from fans and industry figures alike. A true music connoisseur, Omah Lay writes and produces his own music.

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Kicking off 2021 in a strong way, Coventry's finest, Pa Salieu won the illustrious 大象传媒 Music's Sound of 2021. Going from strength to strength, the 23-year-old rapper has injected a new energy into the British rap scene. Fusing his proud Gambian heritage with his West Midlands upbringing, he's carved a niche for himself with his larger than life person and music.

His call-to-arms anthem 'My Family' with BackRoad Gee, only increased his growing status and trajectory and saw him take to the 1Xtra Live 2020 stage last year in our very first online event. Described as a street prophet, possessing an old soul offering alongside a fresh and fiercely independent look at life that many can relate to, Pa Salieu is a name that is here to stay.

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Jamaica will forever be a hotbed of new and emerging talent and Skillibeng is no different, as he flies the flag of dancehall from the small but talawa island in the sun.

As cliche as it sounds, the 23-year-old artist was raised on a healthy diet of music from the likes of Bob Marley, Chronixx and Peter Tosh to name a few, with a dose of Vybz Kartel for good measure. His imprint EastSyde pays homage to the movements and culture of African-to-Caribbean diaspora.

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Stalk Ashley was like music's worst-kept secret and it was only a matter of time before the world found out about her talents. She got a nod from our very own Stormzy and graced the Radio 1 Live Lounge where she lent her vocals to Big Mike's version of Queen Bey's 'Brown Skin Girl' last year.

Hailing from Jamaica, the singer has steadily been growing in stature for her vocal ability - most notably she gained traction for her version of fellow Jamaican artist, Jada Kingdom's 2018 'Banana Challenge'. Since then, Ashley has dropped many singles including 'Open', which continues to fuse RnB with Dancehall vibes.