Five for Friday ft. [@NNemzzz], [@suryasenmusic], [@ceroismael] and more

The tide of new music never seems to stop coming in and Friday being one of the most intense days for new music we can understand if it all feels a little overwhelming. That’s why we’ve delved into the deepest and darkest corners of the musical ocean to bring you Five For Friday: our weekly round-up of the crème de la crème in new music.

Nemzzz – “2MS”

GENRE: rap

Nemzzz carries a clarity in his thoughts, a clear-eyed vision that cuts through the fog. His latest single “2MS” collates this natural musicality with his debonair confidence and you have the makings of something withstanding. The track may feel as though it plays on current trends but there is also something about the finer details which feel like it could stand the tests of time. “2MS” is the first single to be released under Motown Records UK, and another enrapturing single from the artist. His fame soared and numbers shot up when his “Elevate” freestyle went viral via TikTok last year. The track hit two mil before he even had a chance to put pen to paper again and so it made total sense to have the next single titled as such. From going on tour with grime legend D Double E to recently supporting A1 and J1 at their sold-out O2 Academy show there is no question that Nemzzz will be consistent in his rise to stardom.

Surya Sen – “So I Just/ Slidin’” ft. Bone Slim

GENRE: dance / house / hip hop

Cravings for the club this weekend but don’t actually fancy bearing storm Eunice (or whoever it is this time)? Surya Sen and Bone Slim have got you covered. North London’s rising talent Surya Sen has also returned with his first solo single of the year, “Earn It”, alongside the announcement of his debut mixtape At What Cost?; sampling the late ‘70s New York legends ESG and their track of the same title “Earn It”, presentingh his contemporary take on a South Bronx funk classic. Hailing from the revered London NiNE8 collective, Bone Slim, AKA Phantom or Shark, delivers his usual sticky bars over the bass laden track.

Staysie Atoms – “ALL I DO IS FLEX WAKE UP DEN I STRETCH ALL I DO IS TAKE A BREATH” (PROD 2WÄVVY)

GENRE: alt-rap

Staysie Atoms is that cool girl at school, always dressed in the most unconventional but fresh garms, unlikely to ever be spotted without a pair of headphones or laptop to hand (probably 10 feet deep into a sub-reddit) and a veil of tantalising mystery. Her latest release on soundcloud “ALL I DO IS FLEX WAKE UP DEN I STRETCH ALL I DO IS TAKE A BREATH” gives a perfect snapshot into the Memphis artist’s mind. The overarching theme might seem frantic to some but there is beauty in that. This chaos can become therapeutic, like watching an intense film, it carries you away from normalcy. Contemplating her dog, Benji’s behaviour in one line and taking us on an stratospheric trip around her personal miniverse in the next. 

Cero Ismael – “PLANS FOR US“

GENRE: alt-rap / r&b

Following his 2021 project Blue Man this latest body of work from the Amsterdam-based artist is everything you need for a restful moment. The track was written during a tumultuous time for the artist, exploring relationships, morality and human faults while finding beauty in it all. It’s a track designed for the introspective mind, layer pulsing rhythms, and sprinkling in some jazzy undertone Cero Ismael extracts his innermost thoughts, delivered with a hard-to-find low-key confidence.

Mura Masa – “bbycakes” ft. Lil Uzi Vert, PinkPantheress and Shygirl

GENRE: garage / rap / pop

Enter the youthful mind of Mura Masa and pals on his latest single, “bbycakes”. A new era for the musical gymnast. Featuring collaborators Shygirl, PinkPantheress and Lil Uzi Vert there is no doubt we will be seeing planty of this track sampled over TikTok and insta reels in 2022. A virtual window into the future of pop. Combining the enigmatic sounds of UK garage with the Y2K / post pop punk aesthetic of PinkPanthress, with Lil Uzi Verts cheeky rap flow and you’ve got an worm that’ll satisfy your ears for another year.