slowthai - Polaroid

Music 5 years ago

slowthai - Polaroid

An agile storyteller, Northampton's slowthai expertly mixes elements of UK grime and drill while unpacking the micro and macro of his British upbringing.

Carrying no pretensions and seamlessly style-shifting across genres with his frenetic cadence, the singular rapper makes you move and listen simultaneously.

In a year that has seen British rap dominate—from DAVE and Little Simz to Skepta and Octavian—slowthai’s versatility and poignant messaging set him apart.

He’s funny while commanding attention, hilariously painting stark portraits of British classism, racism, and abuse in an ultimately gripping and focused fashion. —Zach Miller