Out Today: Rarelyalways Releases ‘Don’t Ask’ (Innovative Leisure)
RARELYALWAYS TAKES US ON A JOURNEY THROUGH BRITISH RAP, FUNK AND R’N’B ON NEW TRACK ‘DON’T ASK’
A YEAR ON FROM HIS DEBUT ‘BABY BUFFALO’ EP, THE ENGIMATIC RAPPER CONTINUES TO CARVE OUT A NICHE OF HIS OWN
OUT TODAY VIA INNOVATIVE LEISURE
“His lines feel improvised, yet assured” Pitchfork ‘A concise exhibition of his minimalist swagger’ The Fader
” It made my jaw hit the floor’” Billboard “He’s about to blow up in a big way” Matt Wilkinson on Apple Music
Rarelyalways released his brilliant ‘Baby Buffalo’ EP last October to critical acclaim, and equally impressive ‘Manic EP’ in June. Providing further evidence of his distinctive style and flavour, the Hanni El Khatib produced follow-up saw grime, trip hop & jazz effortlessly intermingle with his unique, skeletal flow. A year on from his debut and out today via Innovative Leisure, new single ‘Don’t Ask’ takes us on an enticing journey through British rap, funk and R’n’B. Representing the first in a series of new releases, the track sees the enigmatic Hackney rapper and jazz musician take an innovative approach, showcasing a heavy West Coast influence and grooving through different gears with his trademark snarl. “I can see James brown two-stepping to this,” he quips “’That’s as good as it comes’ is a line I always tell myself when I sometimes slip into a welfare mentality.”
Delving deep into a vast skillset developed from a dizzying array of musical education and practice, Rarelyalways has walked his own path, absorbing culture and music from even the most unlikely sources. Subtle hints of great British one-offs like Tricky, Roots Manuva or a more laid-back Dizzee Rascal are strewn across his tracks. He is a talent emerging fully formed, certain of who he is, and even at this young age, seems ready to share important life lessons with the biggest possible audience.