iluvlive 2021 HOTLIST TOP 10
The votes have been counted and Iluvlive are excited to reveal the 2021 Hotlist Top 10.
Launched in 2016, The iluvlive Hotlist features ten acts we believe the tippers will be tipping in the coming years. Candidates can be signed but cannot have released an album via a major record label or had a top 20 single. Previous successes include Nadia Rose, Ms Banks, Dave, Ray Blk, Stefflon Don, IAMDDB, Dave, Reuben James, Trillary Banks, Kojey Radical, Young T and Bugsey, Darkoo, Avelino, Mira May and Joy Crookes.
The long list of twenty acts was announced on 26th Nov 2020 when public voting opened. Ten acts have now been selected via a combination of public votes and the iluvlive team.
More info about each artist is available below.
iluvlive HOLIST 21 TOP 10
Enny
IG: @ennyintegrity
Twitter: @ennyintegrity
Rapper & singer ENNY is a soulful lyricist with a story to tell. For the past year, the South East Londoner has been focussing on music, developing and refining her craft at Hackney-based collective Root 73. Already gaining industry wide support, ENNY has been making lasting impressions. 2020 has seen the release of her first single 'He's Not Into You' .
Following on from the success of her most recent freestyle a remix to Jay Z’s ‘A Million & One Questions’ Enny’s set to become one of the leading voices of the UK’s flourishing rap scene.
Kish!
IG: @kishfantastic
Twitter: @kishfantastic
The Mysterious Underground King and 237 Cult leader
With his heavy influence from Raider Klan, Goth Money and Oddfuture, Kish! always had had a vision of being the first to create something similar in the UK.
He is focused on bringing the artists from ground up, which is why he created a collective called 237. Their aim is making the world know it's okay to be yourself, no matter who you are.
Lex Amor
IG: @lexysaluteme
Twitter: @lexamor_
Lex Amor is a young talented singer, rapper, producer, radio presenter and DJ from North London.
From Color Studios “With just a handful of singles scattered over the past few years, North London based rapper, producer, DJ and radio presenter Lex Amor cemented herself a voice to be reckoned with. Her poetic pen and sharp delivery stand tall against melodic hip-hop beats on early cuts like ‘Pink’ ,’Transits’, ‘Mood’ and ‘Legend’. This past year, the rising emcee has continued to impress with ‘Mazza’ a standout cut taken from her incredible debut mixtape ‘Government Tropicana’ which dropped last month.”
Morgan Munroe
Twitter: @MorganMunroe
Hailing from Leicester, Morgan first emerged onto the scene last year when she lent her vocals to ‘Last Night’, the Kamakaze single that featured on the FIFA 20 s oundtrack and has since racked up 4 million views.
This year she has taken full advantage of the lockdown period, participating and winning Instagram Live competitions by #HardestBars (twice) and Stefflon Don / Pretty Little Things, as well as being a highlight on DJ Target’s ‘BBC 1Xtra Instagram Live’. She then won £7500-worth of home studio equipment in an SBTV competition, which she later used to record her most recent EP ‘Stay Home Studio Vol. 1’. A stunning single, ‘Mama Taught Me’ is evidence of an artist who’s riding the fast lane to stardom.
Nina Cobham
IG: @ninacobham
Twitter: @ninacobham
From Clash Magazine “A fully bilingual artist, she can switch between different modes, moving between different vantage points in the process.
A bedroom pop artist who leans on her jazz and R&B roots, Nina Cobham transforms her Manchester home into a creative hub.
New single 'do you come here often?' has its roots in a series of 2019 sketches, before taking shape this year.
It's a nuanced, soulful piece of music, it use of layers creating an opaque effect in the rippling arrangement.”
Rachel Chinouriri
Twitter: @rachelchinouriri
Rachel Chinouriri is a 21 year old singer/songwriter from Croydon. Rachel is the youngest in a large family, and the only child born in England rather than her native Zimbabwe. Her family's traditional Zimbabwean values meant she sometimes felt isolated from her cultural surroundings.
At the age of 17 she wrote an EP and recorded it on her laptop using a 20.00 pound microphone, mixed it on her mums laptop and dropped it on Soundcloud. The EP is aptly named 'Bedroom Tales', and saw support from BBC Introducingpretty much instantly, establishing Rachel as an act to watch. 2018 see's her continue to develop her style, with more releases due out later this year. The artwork was also composed by Rachel herself, comprised of old family photos.
S.A.M
IG: @samnxire
Twitter: @samnxire
As a young artist from North West London, S.A.M carries an ambiguous persona to his current status. Alongside his Asian background, the Island Kid uses the influences of Afro Caribbean and Western Sounds to highlight matters within his society and personal life making him one of a kind.
S.A.M caters for all with his honest lyrics and tasteful melodies - alongside taking pride in his song writing ability for himself and others. A project that speaks for itself would be his debut EP, Island Kid and his most recent work, Sin Summer. Despite working solo he has a reputation for collaborating with artists internationally such as Yanchan & Eyon .
Sam Wise
IG: @samwiseldn
Twitter: @samwiseldn
Hailing from South London, Sam Wise has quickly become one of the most differentiated and exciting artists to come out of the capital in some time. As a pivotal member of cult UK hip-hop collective House of Pharaohs (whose fans include the likes of Frank Ocean and Virgil Abloh to name just a few) Sam has sold out shows across the country and gone on to collaborate with the likes of Octavian, 808ink, Kadiata and more.
Tora
IG: @toradifrance
Twitter: @toradifrance
singer/ songwriter/ all round bad bitch
From Colorsxstudios “London based singer/songwriter Tora releases her powerful debut EP ‘Cavalier’ which features previously released singles ‘Vein’ and ‘Call Your Name’. The five-track EP captures Tora’s brilliant songwriting and unquestionably soothing tones on new tracks ‘Below’ and ‘Escape Room’.
With ‘Cavalier’, Tora has cemented herself as one of the most exciting voices around, see for yourself by streaming the gorgeous EP here.”
Xadi
IG: @xadiboi
Twitter: @XadiBoii
Xadi is a West London musician, rapper, and producer, who has begun to garner a reputation for his unique songwriting ability and honest, soulful lyrical expression. His music is versatile and not easily categorised, deftly blending elements of hip-hop, R&B, jazz, grime and many other genres.
Xadi taught himself how to play the guitar at the age of thirteen using Youtube and has since taken the ‘do it yourself’ attitude forward into his current musical creations. All of Xadi’s work to date has been self-produced, mixed and mastered, allowing him to be totally independent and in control of his creative visions.
At the beginning of 2019, Xadi released his debut EP, ‘On Est’. In the project, Xadi delivered a balanced reflection on his own situation at the time, whilst also commenting on wider societal issues in London.