Unknown T released his debut project, ‘Rise Above Hate‘, on the 17th of July. The extended play consists of 16 new tracks and is available to stream on all platforms.
‘Rise Above Hate’ is a significant achievement for the Homerton-based rapper, Unknown T. The project is primarily Drill-focused, as T’s distinctive, punchy, flow is synonymous with the heavy beats of the genre. Tracks such as ‘Tug Boy‘ resemble the gritty sounds for which T is famed. An array of high profile features represent his rising stock within the music industry. Renowned artists such as AJ Tracey, M Huncho and Young T & Bugsey contribute their talents to the project. This adds an element of diversity to ‘Rise Above Hate‘. For example, Young T & Bugsey feature on ‘Main Squeeze‘; a track which draws upon their more polished sound to create the project’s most mainstream song.
Unknown T also reveals his human side with the soft ‘SS Interlude‘, in which the rapper opens up on his struggles with mental health. However, these tracks serve as pallet cleansers for what is a triumphant procession of heavy Drill music. The album’s most notable moments include the ominous ‘Leave Dat Trap‘, with AJ Tracey, and the vintage ‘Deh Deh’.
Unknown T is a pioneer in UK Drill. The single ‘Homerton B‘ is a catchy interpretation of the genre and helped to popularise the movement. It became the first ever UK Drill track to chart in 2018, peaking at 48th. The genre is a relatively new phenomena. It is based off of the Chicago Drill movement, as made famous by iconic artists such as Chief Keef and Fredo Santana. However, UK drill deviates from its American forefather by drawing inspiration from the British influences of Grime and Garage music. The result is a sound which is fast-paced, raw and distinctive.
Unknown T is the prodigal son of UK Drill. His earlier successes propelled the underground genre into the mainstream consciousness. ‘Rise Above Hate’ is an album which bursts at the seems with the same grit and fire for which Unknown T is known for. However, the artist also uses the project to demonstrate his versatility, as he tentatively tests the waters outside of UK Drill. The project is a crowning glory for Unknown T, as he continues to augment the popularity of the entire UK Drill genre.
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