Rejjie Snow - Master Peace

"The best rapper to ever come out of Ireland."

By most metrics, Rejjie Snow appears to be a rap artist and that's technically true. But he doesn't see it that way, and in any case the simplicity of the label (or any label, really) obscures what makes him different, which is pretty much everything. "I thought I'd be blacklisted from hip- hop for being Irish," he says, but that's only the most obvious thing setting him apart. It's not just that he grew up the only black kid on Dublin's Northside, where there's no music scene to speak of. It's that Rejjie is a scene unto himself. He lives wherever his suitcase settles, wherever the songs send him — Los Angeles, New York, London — making albums in the middle of making other albums, and tangling words into beautifully complex knots that blur biography with fantasy over a shifting mass of rainy loops, technicolor keys, and trippy percussion. And then there's his voice, deep and otherworldly, capable of riding a beat with metronomic precision, cooing to raw piano, or yawping Prince-like over a soul-rock-jazz groove. His influences are as disparate as George Michael and Charles Bukowski. He designs clothes and paints. He almost had a career as a soccer star, but instead Rejjie has toured with Madonna and recorded with left-field dance genius Kaytranada.

In 2013, Rejjie Snow released his debut EP, "Rejovich," which quickly garnered critical acclaim and a substantial following. The EP's lead single, "1992," became a viral hit, showcasing his knack for storytelling and smooth delivery. His subsequent singles, such as "All Around the World" and "D.R.U.G.S.," continued to build his reputation as a thoughtful and innovative artist. Snow's debut album, "Dear Annie," released in 2018, marked a significant milestone in his ca- reer. The album, a double LP, was noted for its introspective themes and lush production, fea- turing collaborations with notable artists like Aminé and Kaytranada. Tracks like "Egyptian Luvr" and "Charlie Brown" highlighted his ability to seamlessly blend personal narratives with broader social commentary. His sophomore album, "Baw Baw Black Sheep," dropped in 2021, further cementing his place in the music industry. The project was praised for its experimental sound- scapes and lyrical depth, with standout tracks like "Cookie Chips" featuring MF DOOM and Cam O’bi, and "Mirrors" showcasing his growth as an artist.

2024 will see the release of Rejjie’s third album where continues to push boundaries and ex- plore new artistic terrains. With a dedicated fan base and a growing body of work that defies easy categorization, Snow remains a compelling figure in contemporary music, consistently challenging and redefining what it means to be an artist in the modern era.

MASTER PEACE

Comme la plupart des adolescents, Master Peace, de son vrai nom Peace Okezie, ne savait pas vraiment ce qu'il voulait faire de sa vie. Les choses ont changé lorsque Peace a commencé à fréquenter les studios d'enregistrement et qu'il a fini par trouver la confiance nécessaire pour participer à un groupe de rap alternatif. Rapidement, Master Peace s'est retrouvé à l'avant-garde d'un renouveau de la musique indé britannique avec un trio d'EPS alliant le rock indé jangly de Bloc Party à l'ambition avant-gardiste de The 1975 et à sa propre vision du monde.Le premier album de ce chanteur londonien, « How to Make a Master Peace », est un étonnant mélange de dure réalité, d'optimisme aux yeux écarquillés et de confiance en soi de la jeunesse. 

En travaillant avec le producteur Matt Schwartz (Yungblud, Dylan), Peace a quitté la zone de confort pour explorer le genre plus largement et avec plus d’insouciance. À seulement 25 ans, l’artiste a déjà collaboré avec des artistes comme Santigold, Georgia et The Streets, a donné une série de concerts électriques en tête d'affiche dans tout le pays, et son premier album, classé dans le Top 30, lui a valu le trophée "Rising Star" aux Ivor Novello Awards de 2024.