Last week’s edition of the Uproxx Music 20 column shined a light on Nigerian singer FAVE and her new EP Dutty Love. This week, we’re staying on the African continent, but heading over to Kenya where the spotlight shifts to Xenia Manasseh. The 27-year-old singer is actively exploring the heights and depths of love. It’s a journey that began in 2023 with the release of her debut album Love/Hate Pt. 1. Through that album, Manasseh preached that “it’s okay to be vulnerable and to confront how they feel and see that there’s a lot of beauty that can come out of that.” That confrontation can come through acceptance or a fight to preserve, but acknowledging that it’s all in the name of love makes it worthwhile.
That sentiment remains true on Love/Hate Pt. 2. The project, which Manasseh released back in September, arrives presents a fiercer version of the singer. Yes, they are free-spirited and lively moments like “Asali” and “Longer,” but ferocity guides the bulk of the album. “Dare You” with Waye captures Manasseh on the offensive as she warns an ex of what lies ahead as she remains scorned from their past foray in romance. “Fire” places Manasseh on a well-deserved pedestal and out of the shadows of insecure men, while “Sober” capture an alcohol-fuel spiral that snowballs despite her desire to go cold turkey.
A few removed from the release of Love/Hate Pt. 2, Uproxx found a moment to chat with Xenia Manasseh who is this week’s Uproxx Music 20 artist. Scroll down to learn more about Xenia Manasseh’s inspirations, aspirations, and influences.
My earliest memory of music is playing the piano in kindergarten.
Who or what inspired you to take music seriously?
Not really sure I was necessarily inspired by someone else to take it seriously, I like to think me and music chose each other.
Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?
I can play the piano, guitar, bass, and drums. I started playing all of these (except bass) when I was much younger, but I just don’t get the chance to practice enough.
What was your first job?
Probably being a “secretary” for my grandma.
What is your most prized possession?
My heart.
What is your biggest fear?
I try not to use the word fear anymore because I truly believe that it manifests everything that comes with it into my life.
You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!
I’d love to be in the mountains or by the beach somewhere in a big house with a fully equipped studio and just spend the day making music and having fun with the homies.
What are your three most used emojis?
,, and .
What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?
Brandy.
If you could appear in a future season of a current TV show, which one would it be and why?
Avatar The Last Airbender: Live Action because this is my favorite show ever and just to say I was a part of the franchise. I’ll give number 2 to Abbot Elementary, top tier humor.
Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality and why?
A public figure I’d probably like to sit down and have lunch with is Sadh Guru. I enjoy talking & learning about life and its philosophies & I feel like we’d do that but also actually have a lot of fun together.
Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.
Avatar The Last Airbender is the best show in the world.
What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life and what do you love about it?
That’s a hard one to answer I can think of so many… but it always comes down to the writing and it’s always a love song.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?
Nairobi [is my favorite]; Paris & Tokyo.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.
Brandy, Alex Isley, Khadja Nin, Manana, and Lucky Daye.
What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?
Playing sports or dance.
If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?
I have no clue, I’m happy with the present moment, this is where I heal and learn from the past and also build for the future.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
It’s okay to let go, life will always go on and it is 100% what you make it.
It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
I won’t be that old, so I hope it’s still a reminder of this crazy journey we call life. Hope I continue to see my growth through it and that it remains a reminder that it’s okay to feel.
Love/Hate Pt. 2 is out now via Manasseh Entertainment LLC. Find out more information here.
Nigerian singer FAVE spotlight is about to get much bigger, but it’s a well-deserved reward for her work. The 24-year-old has notched plenty of big moments in the early moments of her career. One of her biggest moments came last year thanks to “Kante,” her collaboration with Davido for his Timeless album. FAVE has also worked with the likes of Phyno, King Promise, Simi, Ajebo Hustlers, and more. It all comes off the strength of her debut EP Riddim 5 released in 2022.
Now FAVE is back with her second EP Dutty Love. With seven songs to its name, FAVE uses the new EP to examine and dive into the various relationships in her life — both platonic and romantic. The highs, lows, and confusing middles are things FAVE pulled from to create this new project which graces ears with a strong blend of R&B, afropop, afrobeats and dance. “I know how hard it is to pull yourself out of a love situation that doesn’t work anymore,” FAVE said about Dutty Love. “I hope people relate to the stories in these songs. I hope it’s a wake-up call to know when to let go. And when you reach that point, put on this EP.”
With Dutty Love out in the world, Uproxx found some time to chat with FAVE who is this week’s Uproxx Music 20 artist. Scroll down to learn more about FAVE’s inspirations, aspirations, and influences.
See Previous UPROXX MUSIC 20 Interviews:
>Amaria Embraces Life’s Uncertainties On The Courageous ‘Free Fallin’
My earliest memory of music is from way way back, I can’t remember what age exactly, but church would probably be my earliest memory of music, been in the choir since I was six and then my father also had this old school collection of music in his laptop that I’d always sneak and go listen to or sometimes he would listen to them, songs like “Give Me Tonight” by Shannon.
I listen to Shannon a lot and “Jam On It,” I’m trying to remember the artist name. I think I always attribute this song by Sky B “Am calling” as one of the very first Nigerian secular music I ever listened to or remember listening to, it formed like such a foundation.
Who or what inspired you to take music seriously?
No one, I don’t think anyone inspired me to take music seriously, I think I inspired myself to take music seriously. I knew what I wanted and I wasn’t going to let anything slow my decision. But I can say that I definitely got a couple of inspirations from artists that I listened to growing up. I think I’d say I inspired myself to take music seriously because I knew for a fact that I had a talent, I knew that I had a voice, and I was super super confident in myself and I guess the thoughts that I needed people to hear me, hear the things that I had to say, hear my voice. I think that’s what inspired me to take music seriously. Although I had music inspirations, artists that I got inspired from like Adele and Sia. Although I had these people to look up to, it would only have inspired me to start music in the first place, but taking it seriously that was all me.
Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?
I don’t know how to play an instrument, I would love to know how to play the guitar or the piano or the rumba. I don’t know if that’s a type of instrument but the rumba drums.
What was your first job?
I was a makeup artist, I went to school, learned how to do makeup artistry. I took classes and when I started up in the university, I’d take jobs for makeup.
What is your most prized possession?
My voice.
What is your biggest fear?
I guess my biggest fear is being an underdog forever.
You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!
I would probably rest, let me put it this way, I’d stay indoors, watch movies and binge-watch shows, cook and eat, and totally be away from my phone or social media or better still, I would go to the cinema and watch all the movies for that day. Oohhhh with unlimited resources??? I’d probably order a lot of snacks, a lot of food, and watch a whole lot of movies.
What are your three most used emojis?
, (because I express so intensely, so even if I say I love you, I have to use the angry face emoji), and .
What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?
That Adele feature, I need that so bad because she doesn’t just hop on like anybody’s song.
If you could appear in a future season of a current TV show, which one would it be and why?
Bridgerton because I just love how dramatic the show is, anyone who knows me knows I like a little bit of over expressiveness where someone could say one sentence, in Bridgerton that same sentence could be said in five different ways and then there would all these emotions from the music that is playing in the background or from their eyes or from how long they let moments linger. So definitely Bridgerton because I love love.
Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality and why?
I respect and admire Lady Gaga so much. I feel like she’s an icon, I feel like she’s a culture mover, a culture maker and a culture shaker. She is one of the custodians of culture I guess, she’s a whole movement, she inspires me so much, in her performances, the kind of music that she makes, it was very different, very raw. I just used to feel so connected to her art and personality. I feel like she feels things as deeply as I do and she’s not afraid to say whatever she’s thinking or to say her mind.
Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.
No one can ever change my mind about indomie being the most terrible food ever or I could say I would always die on the hill that we should all try new things and experience new things rather than staying in the comfort of culture or habits that we are familiar with because how does one ever really know if they love something, if they never really try anything else and if that’s the only thing that they know and this goes far and wide for even the simplest of things like trying new food, picking up new hobbies etc.
What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life and what do you love about it?
I wouldn’t say it’s the best song but it’s one of the best songs, “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush. The first time I heard it was in Stranger Things and I just could not, not Shazam the song. It’s such a beautiful song, it’s such a holy song, it’s such a righteous song, it’s just so deep. I feel like it gave me goosebumps the first day that I heard it and it never stops giving me goosebumps and it also inspires me to make the type of music that talks about the God factor but not in a religious way.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?
I’d say that I had one of my best shows in Kampala and it was a show that I headlined, the energy was amazing. Then a city that I’d really love to perform at but I have not performed at yet is Paris. I would really love to perform in Paris because I feel like I have a lot of fans in Paris.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.
Eminem has to be there, Adele has to be there, Drake has to be there, Nicki Minaj has to be there then number 5, I honestly don’t know who this spot is going to, oh Rihanna.
What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?
I would be getting ready for law school and to write the bar exam or in addition to that, I would also be doing something creative on the side.
If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?
I would love to see 5 years into the future because if I pick to go 5 years back and redo my mistakes or try to do things that cost me problems or issues, if I choose to do stuff like that differently there is no guarantee that it still would not result in a fucked up situation or there’s no guarantee that the outcome would be better than it previously was before I came back. So it’s like it doesn’t really change anything, that’s still a gamble but if I’m able to go forward in the future to see what my future would be, like the things that have brought me to that point then I would be able to make better decisions and better choices for my future.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
I’d say because it got my heart broken, I’d remind my 18 year old self to not be too quick to give your all to someone just because I got my heart broken, that’s all I’d tell my 18 year old self. Besides that I don’t think there’s any advice I’d give to her that she didn’t already know when I was 18 or when she was 18, oh yeah when I was 18 or when I was her.
It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
I’d probably feel on top of the world because that would mean that I made it and my dreams came through.
Dutty Love is out now via Bad Habit/Atlantic Records. Find out more information here.
Amaria has been working towards this moment for the last four and a half years. The Tampa native launched her music career at the beginning of 2020, and since then, the young singer’s tender and velvet voice has graced and impressed ears far and wide, whether it be releases like her debut single “Morning” or her first two projects, Bittersweet and All For You. Other examples lay with collaborations alongside Mac Ayres, UMI, and Destin Conrad as proof of Amaria’s neo-soul excellence inspired the likes of Sadé and Erykah Badu.
This continues with her debut album Free Fallin’ which arrives with an added dose of maturity and youthful wisdom that arrives thanks to experience in the music world. “The main theme of the album, represented by the name, is the idea of going through different life experiences with no safety net,” Amaria said about the album in a press release. “Letting life take you whichever way it wants — essentially ‘free falling.’” Amaria achieves this while using different feelings, styles, attitudes, and auras from various R&B eras in a combination that feels truly authentic to the young and talented singer.
With Free Fallin’ out now and in rotation, we spotlight Amaria for this week’s Uproxx Music 20 column in an interview that dives into her inspirations, aspirations, and influences.
Prior to 2024, Skylar Simone’s last project arrived in 2021 thanks to her Earth Signs. Back then, things were a bit different for the Los Angeles-bred singer. She was still an independent singer finding her way in the music world. Now, despite being just 22 years old, Simone feels much more comfortable thanks to the experience she’s gained over the years. “I feel like I’m this veteran, even though I’m only 22 years old because I’ve been out here hustling for over a decade,” Simone says in a press release.
Simone’s pursuit of a music career began at the age of nine, and her biggest moment yet came 13 years later thanks to the release of her Shiver EP. The project is a roaring epic in all the right ways. Simone is bold in her writing as she conquers heartbreak and reestablishes confidence in herself, love, music, and more. The EP’s title track is sensual and enticing, as Simone elevates the impact of a simple touch of the skin. “Permission” is light and carefree thanks to a blend of R&B, pop, and dance, thanks perfectly soundtracks an afternoon in the sun while “Shut Up” turns the lights low and begs for action and intimacy. Shiver is strong showcase thanks to Simone’s powerful voice and production from D’Mile (“Shiver” & “Shut Up”), Scribz Riley (“Permission” & “Someone Who Cares”), and Trackside (“I Wish I Lied”).
Probably riding in the car when I was little with my mom and listening/singing along to Destiny’s Child & Mariah Carey.
Who or what inspired you to take music seriously?
Myself really. I discovered my love for music randomly (through a school talent show I signed up for last minute). I was immediately hooked & knew that was what I wanted to do with my life & career. But my family has always been so supportive and encouraged me from the beginning to pursue my goals & love of music and artistry.
Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?
I do! I play the piano & drums.
What is your most prized possession?
My parents gifted me a star necklace that my dad originally gave to her, and I wear it every day! So, I’d say that or my piano.
What is your biggest fear?
Biggest “funny” fear are spiders. The minute I see one I turn into a chicken with its head cut off [laughs].
You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!
I’d start the day with some matcha (I’m a little obsessed), turn on and listen to some of my favorite songs, and maybe spend all day in the kitchen. I love to bake and try new recipes so that would be fun to try out a few things and test my cooking skills. Then for dinner maybe try a new restaurant… I also love trying new food & restaurants. And then spend the evening writing/creating new music with my favorite collaborators and walking away with a few new pieces of work.
What are your three most used emojis?
,, and .
What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?
Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality and why?
Rihanna, 100%. I love how unapologetic she is when it comes to trying new things and just being true to her identity. Her commitment to everything she does is truly inspiring.
Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.
Aliens and ghosts are real.
What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life and what do you love about it?
That’s such a hard question to answer because I don’t have just one! I might have to sit this question out because that feels impossible to answer without feeling guilty.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?
I haven’t toured outside of the US yet but will be very soon! A place I’d love to perform would be anywhere in Europe or Asia….Japan would be amazing too.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.
Let’s go with Bruno Mars, Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, Rihanna & maybe as a wild card pick to mix in there, Future.
What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?
Call me predictable but there isn’t a second or world where I could ever think about anything other than music.
If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?
Five years into the future. I’m such a planner and curious person that I would love to see a sneak peak of all the achievements & accomplishments the future holds.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
Always trust your gut! Listen to yourself and don’t be afraid to speak up, lead, and voice your thoughts & opinions.
It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
Since I grew up listening to powerhouse divas (Whitney, Mariah, etc.) & being mesmerized by their powerful voices, it’s always been important for me to carry that tradition of striving for excellence for generations to come. So, while crafting my songs, I focus not only on being lyrically impactful, but also utilizing my full vocal range to move the listener in the same way I was/am listening to the greats.
Shiver is out now via Def Jam. Find out more information here.
Rising New York rapper Fergie Baby wears Harlem on his sleeve, as his recently released EP Harlem River Drive: North reveals. Additionally, also wears the New York borough’s music history on that same sleeve. It’s an undeniable element that comes alive through the project’s six songs. Whether it’s the introspection and storytelling of “Friday Night” or the smooth romancing of “What You Need” boastful raps of “Harlem Rievr Drive,” it’s hard to miss the pride Fergie Baby holds for his hometown.
Harlem River Drive: North is another big moment for Fergie Baby in what’s been a growing collection of them over the last year. The rapper went viral for his On The Radar freestyle “Trueys, BBs, and Canes” while other records like “Suburbans” only boosted his prominence. “The only word to describe my emotions is blessed,” Fergie Baby said in response to the praise he received for “Trueys, BBs, and Canes.” “I’m blessed by my team and everyone who was involved to make this possible.” These are just the arly days for Fergie Baby, and the sky is the limit for the Harlem rapper.
A few weeks removed from the release of Harlem River Drive: North, Fergie Baby gets the spotlight as this week’s Uproxx Music 20 artist. Scroll down to read our interview with the Harlem rapper and to learn more about his inspiration, aspirations, and influences.
My earliest memory of music was being at home with family. Music was always around. From the age of 4, I was a mega Michael Jackson fan. I used to have made-up concerts where my mom and grandma used to be the audience and I’ll come to perform for them as if I were Michael Jackson. I would change clothes every time the song changed. My mother made me a custom glove with rhinestones and a hat. I was raised in 3 households, one with my mother and grandmother, one with my father, and one with my grandfather. My mother used to play music like Dru Hill, New Edition, Big Daddy Kane, & Donell Jones. My Grandma used to be in the living room playing Al Green, The Temptations, Whitney Houston, and Teddy Pendergrass. When I went to my father’s house, he played Nas, Scarface, 50 Cent, and Jay-Z. At my grandfather’s house, he played just James Brown.
Who or what inspired you to take music seriously?
The people around me inspired me to take music seriously. I used to see music as a hobby because my friends did it as a passion. If not for them pushing me to do my first studio session, I wouldn’t be an artist today. They saw the talent in me before I did.
Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?
I do not play any instrument. I would love to learn the piano and violin.
What was your first job?
My first job was at McDonald’s. The worst job in America haha.
What is your most prized possession?
My most prized possession is God, my mother, my family, and my friends. As cliché as it sounds, it’s true. Without them, I wouldn’t be here at all!
What is your biggest fear?
My biggest fear is doing all this for no reason and not getting anywhere.
You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!
If I had 24 hours to do whatever with unlimited resources, I would take my mom wherever she wanted to go and pay her and my bills first and foremost.
What are your three most used emojis?
, , and .
What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?
Kendrick Lamar & Busta Rhymes.
If you could appear in a future season of a current TV show, which one would it be and why?
If I could appear in a future season of a current TV show, it would be Power or Top Boy.
Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality and why?
Teyana Taylor. She’s from Harlem, and she is a goddess in her own right. So many people slept on her and disregarded her craft because she is a woman. She overcame all the hate and it’s similar to what I went through so far in my music career. She does literally everything down to being a songwriter, a musician, a choreographer, a director, a scriptwriter, an actress, a stylist, a designer, etc. She is just a free human being, who has great energy, and determination, and most of all she is unapologetically herself. I see a lot of myself in here.
Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.
An opinion I have that someone can never change my mind about is being me. No one can ever convince, manipulate, or try to change me from being me. I got myself here by staying true to myself. I also encourage others to follow their true selves. This music industry has a way of changing people for an image and clout.
What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life and what do you love about it?
The best song I ever heard in my life is Michael Jackson’s “Rock with You.” As soon as the beat comes on, you feel it. Before he even sings, the beat attracts you. Down to the song composition, the aura, and its Michael at that, I can say confidently that’s the best song ever.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?
My favorite city in the world to perform right now is obviously my town (Harlem). As a runner-up, I’ll say LA. When I performed for the first time in LA, the audience and vibe were at an all-time high for me. One place I’m excited to perform in is Japan.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.
My dream lineup for a music festival would be Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, Michael Jackson, DMX & Busta Rhymes. I would have it in Paris or Egypt.
What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?
I honestly don’t know what I would be doing if it wasn’t for music to be honest. If I wasn’t an artist, I would be an A&R or a manager. I just love music so much.
If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?
Five years into the future. Just to know how all this turned out.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
One piece of advice I would go back in time to tell my 18-year-old self is to not give up and remain yourself at all times.
It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
I would like to be remembered as an icon and mogul. Not only for this music but known in the fashion world and for giving back to the community.
Harlem River Drive: North is out now via Groove Gods Unite The Label. Find out more information here.
At just 23 years old, Toronto singer Dylan Sinclair has plenty of experience in the music industry and the success to match it. His debut project Proverb, released in 2020, received a nomination for Traditional R&B/Soul Recording of the Year at the Juno Awards Of 2021. Two years later, his second project No Longer In The Suburbs was longlisted for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize. These two moments, along with others, helped to stamp Sinclair’s talents, which come alive more than ever on his official debut For The Boy In Me.
The 12-track project, complete without guest features, is an ode to being in love and in a stable relationship. “In a world where men are not encouraged to be vulnerable, this album For The Boy In Me disregards that, choosing to tell it like it is,” Sinclair said about the album in a press release. The feel-good spirit Sinclair exudes lives on records like “Lemon Trees,” a song made for driving with the windows down and soaking in a warm breeze. “Slo Mo” wades into intimate waters as Sinclair sings about passionate moments in the bedroom while “IMY” lands as a moving ballad about longing for a partner’s physical presence. Altogether, Sinclair uses For The Boy In Me to detail the beauty of the love and intimacy and the many ways it shows up in a solidified relationship.
Together with the release of For The Boy In Me, Uproxx spotlighted Sinclair for this week’s Uproxx Music 20 column. Scroll down to learn more about the Toronto native’s influences, inspirations, and aspirations.
You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!
Wake up. Have a smoothie. Work out. Eat some Filipino food for breakfast. Go to the beach with some friends. Get drunk. Have fresh fish tacos for lunch. Go home to shower. Go on a dinner date and see where the rest of my night leads.
What are your three most used emojis?
, , and .
What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?
I love London’s energy. I’m looking forward to performing in the Philippines and Australia.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.
Ask me this in a few months. My favorite artists are my friends and they haven’t released music yet.
What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?
I have no idea. Around the time that I was getting into music more consistently, I was also getting into skateboarding so maybe I would’ve stuck with that.
If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?
The past of course. Then I can do what I’ve done but better because of what I know now. The future belongs as a mystery.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
Carve out your own lane.
It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
For it to be remembered in itself is lit enough to me. The “how” is up to the listeners.
For The Boy In Me is out now Five Stone Records Inc. Find out more information here.
The promising future for Jaz Karis’ is finally here. The London singer released her debut album Safe Flight today and it surpasses all expectations laid before her prior to its release. The 13-track release documents the journey and creative processes that led to Safe Flight and how, in making the album, Karis in a way left home to begin a new independent chapter in her life.
“This past year or so, I have traveled back and forth between London & Los Angeles so much that I hadn’t realized how much my life was changing before my eyes,” Karis said in a press release for the album. “The title Safe Flight felt fitting due to the amount of times I had heard it this past year, it also felt like I was embarking on a new journey, which is exactly what this album has been for me.” Karis’ feeling of starting a new chapter comes from the fact that just one song on the album was made in her hometown of London, with the rest mostly taking shape in Los Angeles, as well as New York City, Atlanta, Texas.
In the end, Safe Flight is a soaring and impressive debut from Karis that also doubles as a tasteful melting pot of R&B flavors. Karis delivers excellent traditional R&B ballads like “Love Me” and “Prayer” while impressing just as much with duets through the Mahalia-assisted “Nice Girls” and “Met You At A Bar” with Tone Stith. Karis brings us to the tropics and dazzles on “Tequila” with Reekado Banks, “Sims Castaway” with Juls, and “Chill On Me” with June Freedom. The diverse project reaffirms both Karis’ talents and her stardom.
Together with the release of Safe Flight, Uproxx caught up with Karis to spotlight her for this week’s Uproxx Music 20 column. Scroll down to learn more about the London singer’s inspiration, influences, and aspirations.
My earliest memory of music is a pink toy I used to carry everywhere with me, and it played different loops on it. I used to make songs to the loops and I still remember my first limerick to this day.
Who or what inspired you to take music seriously?
I think I’d have to say at the time it was Alicia Keys. I played piano and her song was the first song I ever recorded in the studio, I saw myself in her.
Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?
Yes, I play the piano.
What was your first job?
My first ever job was a receptionist at a music studio and they gave me free studio time in exchange.
You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!
Turning off my phone, flying first class with my friends and family to the Caribbean, and sipping a rum punch on the beach listening to Safe Flight.
What are your three most used emojis?
, , and .
What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?
Drake.
If you could appear in a future season of a current TV show, which one would it be and why?
Black Mirror because I love it so much! It tells such a cool story, and they always end up coming true, so I feel like I’d get an inside on what’s coming.
Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality, and why?
24-year-old rising rapper Kei had no plans of taking music seriously when she dove into it back in 2021. However, three years later along with awards for Best New Artist and Song Of The Year at the Boston Music Awards in 2022 and 2023, respectively, Kei has fully embraced a career as a music artist. It’s great that Kei came around to it as the young rapper has all the tools to be the next star that emerges onto the nationwide rap scene. I got to see it first during her recent performance at Boston’s No Hype Fest which featured additional performances from Seddy Hendrinx, Flee, Tyler Loyal, TeaMarr, Hennessy, and more.
While some artists embrace the spotlight, Kei attacks it and aims to somehow outshine the light that falls on her. Her brief was propelled by her infectious energy that demanded the attention of the crowd before her. It was impossible to turn away. Kei’s set earned a strong applause from the crowd and was definitely one of, if not the most memorable performance from the night. It’s all the result of hard work, dedication, and still having fun — a recipe that Kei tries her best to keep in her music.
Nearly two years removed from her last project Child’s Play. The Boston native is hard at work on her debut album, one she says is “reminiscent of my first project Baby Steps, but a lot more introspective, very personal, and telling the story of who I am and how I got here.” The journey towards that project continues with her upcoming single “Double Jimmeis,” a title that derived from her love of sprikles on ice cream, a sentiment shared with the song’s producer, fellow Boston native Rilla Force. The track’s playful and bass-knocking beat was saved under the title of “double jimmeis” by Force and Kei felt it was perfect to stick with once the song was complete.
“It’s just a very fun record,” Kei says about the song which she made during a four-week artist incubator called Outloud created by Boston artist Oompa. “It’s a very pure record. It was didn’t take a lot of thought. It was really cool.”
With “Double Jimmeis” just hours away from coming out, we caught up with Kei to spotlight her as this week’s Uproxx Music 20 artist. Scroll down to her music and learn more about her inspirations, influences, and aspirations.
I definitely would say it was with my dad in his bedroom where he had his studio equipment. You could definitely see that in my first project, Baby Steps like the cover art is literally me in his studio. Just him, producing, making music with his friends, and always being surrounded by sounds and music. A lot of my influences in music come from him. I even recorded earlier songs with him in his studio as we move from home to home. Always just having the studio set up and experimenting with making songs and recording with him, my dad definitely is my earliest memory of music.
Who or what inspired you to take music seriously?
I guess the defining moment for me, or who it was, was myself because I started doing music seriously in 2021, just diving back into the passion of writing and expressing my feelings. Everybody was going through such a pivotal time, there were so many changes going on. I just remember freestyling, smoking, and just every day, going at it, and having that feeling of, “Yo, this sounds good and I am tired of hearing it like all my voice memos or I have to spit it every time.” So I’m the one who took myself to the studio or connected myself with friends that connected me to a recording studio and I put myself in there, I paid for my sessions, and I put two of my records out on SoundCloud, and then I was like, Yo, I want this to, like be a thing. I learned how to develop it into like a project, and I got my DistroKid, and I put it out on platforms. I did that myself.
Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?
Okay, so technically, I don’t know how to play an instrument, but but when I was in third grade at my elementary school, we had a music class and I learned how to play the recorder. I’m not sure if I would be lit at it now, but I would love to learn how to play instruments. I really am passionate about learning the drums, keys, and guitar. I remember as a kid getting a little cheap one [guitar] at Walmart and just having it. My dad knows how to play the guitar, but he never taught me. I kind of know how to fiddle with it now and fiddle with keys, but definitely drums, keys and guitar.
What was your first job?
My first official job was working at Burger King. I remember working at Burger King, and I was so excited. I remember my first day, my family came in and, was taking pictures of me at the register and I had a little jingle like, “Hi, my name is Kei and I work at BK. You already know you can have it your way.” Technically it was Burger King, but my first job has always been like youth center jobs and working at community centers with kids, but my first real job was Burger King.
What is your most prized possession?
My most prized possession, I would say my character and my personality. Who I am is the most precious thing to me. Being in a world filled with oversaturated personalities, not even just in music, [but] on social media and in real life [with] people creating these images or personas of themselves, I can stay that to this day I’m still my inner kid. I’m still who I was five years ago, more mature, more experienced, and just growing over time. So definitely, my character — who I am and what I stand for — is my most prized possession.
What is your biggest fear?
My biggest fear is stagnation, not rising to my potential, and being in the same circumstances that I was raised in. To end up living the same lives that I’ve watched my parents go through, and not reach their dreams and the things that they wanted in life. That’s my biggest fear… outside of heights. I don’t f*ck with heights.
You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!
Okay, the first thing that I’m doing is investing in properties for myself. I’ve always wanted a home to have something to myself and make sure that everybody in my immediate family is straight. I’m putting my siblings, nieces, and nephews in a trust fund or some type of financial thing for them to for them to be straight. After that, I’m hopping on a fight to somewhere in the world. I don’t even have a passport yet, but I want to travel the world. I would love to go to the place where my father and his family is from. My dad was born in England, but his family is from an island called Montserrat and I would love to go there. I would just travel the world, try all the different types of foods that I’ve never gotten to try, make sure that I’m set, and that my family is set.
What are your three most used emojis?
, , and .
What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?
If you could appear in a future season of a current TV show, which one would it be and why?
If we’re talking about acting in a present-day TV show, I’d say it has to be like Master Chef or any of Gordon Ramsay’s reality TV shows because I love to cook and I would love to see how I deal with him under super pressure. Hopefully I won’t fold, but I would love to be in one of those. If it’s voice acting, because I’d love to do voice acting, I would say SpongeBob SquarePants or Powerpuff Girls.
Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality and why?
I would definitely say Doja Cat. She’s someone that I’ve become more fond of quite recently. Because of my presence on stage, people that I’ve worked with have compared me to her, and I wasn’t really familiar with her work, but listening to it, and then going back in her discography and watching her evolution over time. Her staying true [to herself], not being steered in a different direction based off of how people perceive her, and her just living in her truest, raw, authentic self till this day is something that is extremely admiral to me, because the things that I used to get made front of or tore down for in the past are the same things people are praising me for now. Her quirkiness, her charisma, and her personality are really, really admirable to me.
Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.
Once you hit 20 or 21, you should be able to hold yourself accountable. Like once you hit a certain age, you should walk through the world with some type of awareness, there’s no room for “I don’t know” or excuses. I understand giving grace, I understand learning curves, learning processes, and things like that, but you should always learn to have some type of awareness and accountability. Besides that, the best ice cream toppings are rainbow sprinkles and whipped cream.
What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life and what do you love about it?
I’d definitely would say “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” by Michael Jackson. The production on that is insane. The layered instruments and how he arranged it is so methodical, that’s one of the best songs. That will automatically get you moving and that’s what I want to emulate in my music. I don’t have a particular sound or genre, but the running theme with my music is, I want it to be able to move people, whether that’s physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. I want you to feel something and everything about that song embodies that.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?
Boston, hands down, just because of how much unconditional love and support I have for my community just them consistently supporting me overtime, and how I’ve watched their appreciation for me grow within the past three years. I don’t think there will be any other feeling I get from another city like I get from Boston. A place that I’m excited to perform that I haven’t performed in is definitely Miami. I haven’t got a chance to experience the music community out there. Some of my favorite rappers, like XXXTentacion, came out of Florida. I have a friend of mine, her name is Scotty, she comes out of Florida, but the way that they describe that scene is lit. I would love to know what it’s like to perform out there for like Rolling Loud. That would be crazy.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.
If they’re established artists? Rico Nasty, Bktherula, Chief Keef, Doja Cat, & Lil Uzi Vert. Up-and-coming artists from my city? Clark D, Neemz, Jo Saza, Sanyé, and Nay Speaks. I would have it in Boston & turn Fenway Park into a concert venue!
What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?
I honestly don’t know. Before music, I was extremely lost. I was working a minimum wage job, not making enough like really walking through life aimlessly. When I had my brief time in college, I really wanted to do a double major in adolescent psychology or sociology or something cosmetics or be a esthetician or get into hair and makeup, just cosmetology in general. If I went down the school path, I’d probably start my own nonprofit or business working with kids and trying to provide resources to them creatively, financially, and emotionally — whatever support they needed to pursue their dreams. That or I’d be doing hair, makeup, nails, [and] all the good stuff that I enjoy outside of my music that elevate my branding and my style.
If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?
I’d go five years into the future, I wouldn’t go into the past because I wouldn’t want to change anything that’s happened thus far. I feel like the past five years for me have been extremely pivotal to my development and [put me] through the biggest changes. I wouldn’t ask for it any other way. I would love to see, based off of my decisions that I’ve done this thus far, where that lands me in five years and what I’m doing. That way, if I’m not doing something that I’m happy with, I’d try to do some reflecting now on what really means something to me and how that can steer my path in the future.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
I’d say, don’t fret on what you feel like you need to do, continue to do what you want to do. Understand that everything that you want is already yours, you just have to put the work and effort to do it. I could avoid a lot of unnecessary like stress trying to live up to what society set out for us to achieve and me not feeling like I’m worth enough because I’m not doing those things. Don’t stress on what you feel like you think you should be doing, just do what you feel like you should be doing. That’s what I would tell myself.
It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
At that time, I’d be a 50-year-old motherf*cker [laughs]. I would want to reach a point where my music and I left a legacy — Kei is iconic. Kei was the first of many. I would want to inspire so many people, and hopefully my art and my expression by 2050 has cultivated a plethora of so many other young, upcoming leaders and legends. I would want to be legendary, I’d want to be iconic, I’d want to be impactful, and I want to be prevelant. I want that to be know, like when you think of Kei, it’s Kei. Just like it’s MJ.
This week’s Uproxx Music 20 column takes things to the West Coast, where we shine a light on rapper Teyter Tot. With a project and a slew of singles under her belt, the Oakland native caught my attention thanks to a couple of freestyles that live on her Instagram page. The first is one from a few months ago with the platform In The Kitchen With H-Dot and the other is with another called Hotel Freestyles. In both, Teyter Tot displayed fierce attitude as she fired off brash, tough-talking bars over bass-rattling production.
Teyter Tot’s music reminds me a bit of Rico Nasty’s, only with an emphasis on The Bay rather than the DMV. Teyter’s most recent project came back in 2022 with Different Breed, and though she’s yet to release a record in 2024, she’s spent the last week teasing what we can assume is her next single of many to come. The sky is the limit for the Oakland-bred rapper, so if you want to dive into her releases, you can start with Different Breed highlights like “Act Right” and “Wait” or check out some of her 2023 singles like “Angel” and “Choose Up.”
With more to come from Teyter Tot, scroll down to learn more about her artistry and discover her inspiration, aspiration, and influences.
Music has been a part of my life as long as I can remember, so I’m not sure. What I do remember is my mom telling me when I was a few months old, she would purposefully put on Mary J. Blige and I would sit up and bounce on beat.
Who inspired you to take music seriously?
My mother. She always told me if I do it, do it fully and always encouraged me to finish what I started. She also exposed me to a lot of art as a child so I’ve always been developing a taste for culture.
Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?
Yes, I can play piano and drums. I kinda forgot how to read music, but if I studied for like a month, I’d probably have it down again. I still would also love to learn how to play bass.
What was your first job?
Chipotle. I hated it.
What is your most prized possession?
My mind.
What is your biggest fear?
Not trying or being too enthralled in shame based fear that I don’t have the space to grow.
You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!
I don’t know, probably walking around butt ass naked with mad jewelry on eating berries and sh*t through a tea garden in Japan. Then I’d swim in a stream or something & smoke a blunt in a country you probably aren’t supposed to.
What are your three most used emojis?
, , and .
What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?
Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality and why?
Rihanna, all girls love Rihanna. She’s a boss, she’s that girl.
Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.
Too many people associate their own value to what they are able to provide monetarily and that gives you low self-esteem which actually makes it harder to live anyway.
What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life and what do you love about it?
Maybe Sade’s “Smooth Operator” because it’s smooth and player. It feels like an immersive experience each time I hear it.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?
Favorite city is probably Los Angeles, they show me hella love. I’m looking forward to some day performing in London or Tokyo.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.
Yonkers rapper Iman Nunez isn’t scared of anything. That’s at least my takeaway after listening to his latest album Phases Vol. 2. The nine-track project, hosted by Gabe P’s New York-based platform On The Radar, was the start of many big moments for Iman Nunez and his 2024 campaign. Shortly after the album’s release, Nunez experienced a viral moment beside fellow NY rappers Fergie Baby, HDBeenDope, Dizzy Banko, LifeOfThom, Niko Brim, Tony E thanks to a freestyle performed on On The Radar. A few weeks later, Nunez took his talents to the 2024 BET Awards for another performance.
These moments and the ones that will surely follow are the result of the grit, fight, and resilience that Nunez on Phases Vol. 2. “I Got Time” is a boastful anthem that makes it clear that fame and the life that comes with it won’t change the person Nunez is. “Pipe Down” with Dizzy Banko and Fergie Baby demands silence from unworthy competitors and nuisances while “Get Off My Back” seeks freedom from the life’s pressures. Nunez’s rap skills are not to be questioned, nor is his determination to reach new heights — a combination that will prove to be greatly beneficial for the rising Yonkers rapper.
With Phases Vol. 2 still in rotation, we caught up with Iman Nunez for this week’s Uproxx Music 20 column. Scroll down to check out some highlights from his catalog and to learn more about his inspiration, influences, and aspirations.
My earliest memory of music is falling asleep to classical music when I was a child. Every night, my mom used to have that playing for us to go to sleep.
Who inspired you to take music seriously?
What inspired me to take music seriously was the obsession of wanting to be great. I had a love for hip-hop as a child and didn’t think that type of dream was attainable but realized it soon after and started to check goals off.
Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?
I played piano for many years of my life when growing up, but I sadly forgot because instead of learning notes, I was memorizing the way the song sounded in order to know what to do next. If I had to choose an instrument to learn, it would be to relearn the piano.
What was your first job?
My first job ever was Uber Eats. I used to go to the city, get an unlimited metro card and start working ’til sundown.
What is your most prized possession?
My fiancé and I each have this grape soda pin from the movie “Up” that I cherish.
What is your biggest fear?
I have a big fear of heights. I don’t know where I developed it, but I’m trying to overcome it as I get older.
You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!
I’m purchasing every single type of crypto with it being a downtime, renting out Disneyland (DCA Specifically) to set up a listening party in the park for a project coming out. I’ll also purchase court-side tickets to a Knicks playoff game in advance.
What are your three most used emojis?
, , and .
What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?
Stevie Wonder.
If you could appear in a future season of a current TV show, which one would it be and why?
The Bear. I’d love to see me as a chef in that type of high intensity environment. It’s a very well put together show.
Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality and why?
I’d say J. Cole. My reasoning behind that is because you can tell that he’s genuinely himself. He’s still growing as a human and it doesn’t feel like a facade.
Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.
Pineapple on pizza is a sin.
What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life and what do you love about it?
I’m one of those people that don’t have a best song ever. That changes for me every day or week. Last week was “Birds Of A Feather” by Billie Eilish. At this very moment, the best song ever (to me) is “Glock” by Don Toliver. I don’t think there’s a better song out right now. I wish I made it myself. It’s smooth, catchy, a good time, the beat is insane.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?
My hometown, NYC. I’ve been blessed enough to do my own headline shows so it’s always love. A city I’m excited to perform at for my first time is Toronto.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.
What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?
I’d probably be managing artists or finding my way into the entertainment industry or start a sports agency.
If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?
I’d go five years into the past because you can’t get time back once you’re gone. I already feel like there’s not enough time in a day.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
Turn the outside noise off as much as you can and stop thinking you aren’t good enough. People respect your pen and you put in the time. Just be patient.
It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
I would like for my music to be remembered as classic. Something you connected to that touched your heart. Honest. Not a specific timestamp to what it sounds like but something that doesn’t have a time period to it. Just timeless and heartfelt.
Phases Vol. 2 is out now via ONLYONEIMAN LLC. Find out more information here.
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