On “Jewels” Camden rapper Awate proves grime is not the only thriving force in UK hip-hop
Bringing together elements of jazz and hip-hop from decades gone by, his new single, “Jewels” – taken from his debut album Happiness – greets you off guard with a walking bass that explodes into life with early '50s jazz riffs that wouldn’t look out of place foregrounded by an intense Bond scene.
The drama of the beat provides a platform for Awate’s golden-age flow, giving more emphasis to his gritty, hard-hitting bars that speak fluidly of social injustice and police brutality: "They ask me, where is the black face now / It’s between the officers boot and the cold hard ground."
In less than three minutes, "Jewels" packs a punch that hits so hard that it’ll lodge in your auditory cortex. Embrace it.
Follow our Discovery Playlist on Spotify and catch up on the last seven days in new music
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