Nemzzz - K1D

"The teenage Mancunian is one of British rap’s finest prospects"

“I would rather grind and stay on the low” spits Nemzzz on “Money and Vibes”, which is one of the obvious highlights from his forthcoming debut mixtape, Do Not Disturb. “Half these man got a lot to post but ain’t got nothing to show,” the emcee from Gorton, Manchester continues in a carefree, conversational flow. His warm vocals come across more like a late-night chat with a best friend, who is desperate to get something off their chest, than just your typical club banger.

These lyrical sentiments are the perfect crystallization of why Nemzzz feels like the next chosen one for Manchester’s burgeoning rap scene. This artist has risen up from the underground to co-signs from Drake, Lil Yachty, Skepta and Clint (Cortiez), earning over three million monthly listeners via catchy breakout singles like “2MS” and “Elevate. In his bars, he’s very much an old head on young shoulders and would rather be at home philosophizing about life and death than out popping bottles behind red ropes. Therefore, Nemzzz is relatable in a different way than a lot of his rap peers; driven less by punchlines about Birkin bags and more by the challenge of helping his young fans navigate their way through growing pains (including heartbreak, fake friends, financial literacy, finding your own path, and managing mental health amid social media addiction). “I want to feel relatable,” he explains of his approach to rapping.

Nemzzz has referenced his childhood on a council estate in Gorton before and how he was surrounded by “broken families”. However, with two naturally musical parents, he says writing song lyrics became escapist therapy from an early age and a way to resist the temptation of joining a gang. A laidback cadence and frank observations give his music a relatable core, sure, but any emotional heaviness is avoided by Nemzzz’ wicked sense of humor. With these withering punchlines, he has a habit of making his enemies feel three feet tall, but it’s fair to say the message that tends to prevail is one of going down the righteous path. His new record (Do Not Disturb) - with all its earworm hooks, raw, soulful trap production, and blunt bars - is more than capable of cementing Nemzzz as a mainstream star. Buckle up, because Nemzzz is only just getting started.

K1D