Nippa - 'Homegrown'
What's Good Y'all?! When I think of my favorite R&B artists, I'm often surprised by how many are from the UK: Nao, Craig David, Amy Winehouse, and even The Beatles—because, come on. So I was excited to discover Nippa, a new crooner from Tottenham, London. At just 22 years old, Nippa has already toured with Blxst, Craig David, and TS5, so he's not entirely new to the scene, but he's still charting his path. His debut album, Homegrown, introduces us to this young talent.
Homegrown opens with Nippa reflecting on his life experiences and their impact. I particularly like the song title 'Talkin' to the Mirror' and how it aligns with the chorus, where he poses a profound question to himself: "why'd you make me wait so long?"
Now, can I be honest, friends? I wasn't initially captivated by Nippa's music. It actually took me at least 3 to 5 listens to appreciate Homegrown as a strong debut. Was I resistant to a new sound and artist? Perhaps. But what really bothered me was an NME article about him and his album that I stumbled upon while researching. I was quite disturbed by their labeling his music as "hood R&B," and I wasn't sure if those were his words or theirs. I have no idea what "hood R&B" is, because, to me, it's simply R&B. And don't let the "rhythm" part of the word mislead you. Just because the rhythm is a funky beat you can vibe to and momentarily forget your troubles doesn't negate the underlying blues that can still accompany it. I believe Nippa masterfully captures the essence of R&B in this first project.
For Homegrown, our cousin across the pond collaborated with American artists Blxst on the title track and Jordan Ward on 'Kacey,' which is my favorite song on the album. The collaborations were excellent, as was the production and Nippa's vocals. Nippa is only 22, and while this is his first album under a major label, he has three EPs, a previous debut album, and several singles that I highly recommend checking out! I did end up enjoying this album more than I did during my initial listens. I'm eager to witness Nippa's growth as an artist; the future of R&B is in good hands with emerging talents like him.
Check out his latest project via the links below:
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