Chiedu Oraka releases new single ‘Acra Freestyle’
Credit: Stewart Baxter
RELEASES NEW SINGLE
‘ACRA FREESTYLE’
NEW EP UNDENIABLE
OUT 31st OCTOBER
“A project steeped in the traditions of hip-hop, from an unlikely place and a crucial figure” – DJ Mag
“An unfiltered and provocative reflection of the Black, working class, Northern experience” – NME
“A formidable force in the North’s rap scene” – The Line of Best Fit
“Razor sharp flows and intelligent lyricism” – Wonderland
Today, Chiedu Oraka shares ‘ACRA Freestyle’, another taste of his new EP Undeniableout 13th November. Dedicated to amplifying the community of Black creatives in Yorkshire who the Hull rapper has bonded with through his music, the track is named after the fashion house who collaborated with him to create The Black Yorkshireman Collectionwhich was documented in Vogue and GQ. It’s a shared victory which celebrates the council estate confidence that has taken Chiedu Oraka to the top of his local scene to national and global acclaim.
With grit, wit and heart, the Hull hip-hop titan is one of our finest national storytellers. His verses are unflinching social poetry which portray the Black, working-class experience from the council estates of the north; capable of bringing us white hot floor-fillers alongside necessary, human documents of the world we live in.
Speaking on the new single, Chiedu Oraka shares: “ACRA Freestyle is bigger than a track. It’s about giving Northern Black voices a space and platform to be heard. This freestyle was born out of my collaboration with Black-owned fashion brand, ACRA who’s mission aligns with my own; pushing each other forward and celebrating how far we’ve come, without the division.”
‘Acra Freestyle’ follows Chiedu Oraka’s victorious UK headline show, with new dates added due to demand. His live presence is sharper than ever after the career-defining opportunity to open for Coldplay for their shows at Hull’s Craven Park – hand-selected by Chris Martin himself. His performance was met with rapturous reviews and led to an extensive profile in The Guardian.
It succeeds ‘Last Laugh’, an anthem of overcoming the odds produced by veteran producer duo Dot Inc (Knucks, Nippa, Ghetts, Giggs) and ‘Kid On The Estate’ brought to life with loyal and local collaborator Deezkid.
Undeniable delivers on Chiedu Oraka’s meteoric rise over the past year: winning the coveted ‘Best Newcomer’ category at the Northern Music Awards 2025; supporting Skepta; headlining The Line of Best Fit’s showcase at SXSW in Texas; opening for CASISDEAD and performing for the packed-out BBC Music Introducing Stage at Glastonbury last summer.
His 12-track mixtape Misfit (released via Launchpad+ and EMI North in April 2024) delved deep into themes of Black identity, masculinity, mental health, and the struggles of living on society’s margins. The project earned widespread critical acclaim, with praise from CRACK, NME, Clash, DJ Mag, The Telegraph, and Wonderland, features from mental health platform, CALM and strong support across BBC Radio 1, 6Music and1Xtra. “Helly Hansen 6” landed on BBC 6Music’s C List for four weeks consecutively, and Oraka made history as BBC Radio 1’s first Future Flex freestyle performer for Sian Eleri.
Witness the Chiedu Oraka phenomenon at the tour dates below, and stay tuned for more to come from The Black Yorkshireman.
