SL shares new single ‘Shooter’ ft. Aystar & Booter Bee
“One of the most intriguing prospects in UK rap … SL’s talent is unmistakable” – The Guardian
“Now an even sharper writer with an even more refined flow” – TRENCH
“Conversational, unhurried and sonically expansive” – Clash
“Unique … gripping” – Pigeons & Planes
“An already-unmissable new talent” – NME
Following the announcement of his forthcoming full-length mixtape Block Tales to be released on September 5th and his debut UK & EU headline tour, SL ups the stakes of the project’s ambition with new single ‘Shooter’. Expanding its formidable cast of rap heavyweights, this time he calls upon Liverpool rapper Aystar and anonymous northern force Booter Bee.
‘Shooter’ marks an apex of suspense in the unfolding story SL tells through Block Tales. It begins with the gravity of a church organ, which sets a scene which is almost Shakespearean in tone as his characters plan retribution for the loss of their friend. Together, the three rappers deliver one of the most arresting tracks on the project. It shows us the chain reaction of inescapable choices and retaliations which perpetuate the loss which lies at the core of Block Tales.
The lives of his characters are a lens through which SL untangles the knots of social pressure and survivalism, boys too eager to become men, the snares of gang culture and the possibility of aspiring for more than the circumstances you were born into. South London is a living, breathing character in itself: SL’s lyrics and production choices have been chosen to feel as if you’re there, a fly on the wall.
When forerunning singles ‘Robbery’ and ‘Paranoia’ immersed listeners in the darkness of a dangerous path, and ‘Summertime’ which featured Sainté and Knucks showed us that there are also glimmers of light – ‘Shooter’ is the moment when we make a decision which defines our life in terms of before and after.
SL rides the knife’s edge between global celebrity and absolute anonymity. He is one of UK rap’s leading storytellers, penning generational classics before he had even sat his GCSEs as a teenager with accolades from JME and Stormzy to Drake and Virgil Abloh – and yet his story has remained closely guarded. His signature balaclava has concealed his identity while his tracks have amassed streams in nine-figures. The likes of ‘Tropical’ and ‘Gentleman’ – proof of his lyrical dexterity and unforgettable melodic cadence – have soundtracked the house parties and night bus rides of his peers. The phenomenon of SL has progressed in step with his own coming-of-age story, from teenager to young adult – and, finally, an artist in full command of his gifts. Block Tales gives us unprecedented access into his world.
The last couple of years have seen SL grow as an artist, but also as a teenager becoming a young man. The 2017 release of his life-transforming debut single ‘Gentleman’ arrived when he was only 15-years-old. His career began in secret so he could complete his GCSEs. He has released three EPs so far – Everything Good Is Bad and Selhurst SE25 culminating in 2020’s Different Dude – whilst also setting up a foundation in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, empowering young people from ethnicities across the UK.
Having been raised on golden-age kingmakers like Wu-Tang Clan, DMX, and Jay Z, it’s SL’s multi-faceted approach – where the production, visuals and compelling storytelling all go hand-in-hand – that has seen his formative work carve out a singular lane in contemporary music.
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SL – Block Tales Tour Dates
October 3 – Paris, FR – Le Hasard Ludique
October 4 – Amsterdam, NL – Bitterzoet
October 5 – Cologne, DE – Yuca
October 7 – Berlin, DE – Privatclub
October 8 – Hamburg, DE – Turmzimmer
October 10 – Warsaw, PL – Hydrozagadka
October 16 – Glasgow, UK – SWG3
October 17 – Manchester, UK – Club Academy
October 18 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Institute2
October 19 – Bristol, UK – Strange Brew
October 20 – London, UK – KOKO
