A guide to asakaa: Ghana’s explosive drill scene
A community of artists in the city of Kumasi have put their own spin on the hard-hitting rap sound, winning praise from Stormzy and Virgil Abloh.
Music
100% RV: UK drill’s punchline king
Headie One’s close collaborator talks Twitter, artistic confidence and dinner in The Shard.
Rated by The Face: a weekly playlist
slowhthai and A$AP Rocky bounce off the walls, Saweetie and Doja Cat become best mates and Virgil takes on experimental production with serpentwithfeet.
Comedian Rachel Sennott’s weekend bender playlist
The New York based comedian, actor and reply guy-baiter imagines how she would soundtrack a wild post-pandemic weekend party.
Mystery men, stage fright and Jewish party music: an interview with Black Country, New Road
The south London seven piece speak to THE FACE ahead of their anxiously excellent debut album.
Conducta is fanning the flames of UK garage
The Kiwi Rekords boss has united a new wave of producers who are determined to deliver feel-good bangers.
The Parisian independent radio station teaching youth how to dream big
In partnership with Dr. Martens
Rated by The Face: a weekly playlist
Bieber’s back, Grimes has gone ravey and Playboi Carti’s new stuff is either radical genius, or a disaster.
10 things to know about Pa Salieu
Think you know everything about the Frontline rapper and BBC Sound of 2021 poll winner? Here are some facts ahead of the 23-year-old musician's US TV debut on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Have a home rave with Romy’s playlist
The xx member and freshly soloed artist shares a selection of emotional dance pop tunes.
Tássia Reis: “During hard times, art ends up playing a different role”
In partnership with Ballantine’s
Arlo Parks is leaving her bedroom
The west London singer-songwriter, poet and fashion muse has had a stellar 2020 – yes, in spite of everything. On the eve of the release of her debut album, she discusses weird dreams about Harry Styles and the Gucci bag that got away.
100% Stalk Ashley: the sultry Jamaican songbird
The 22-year-old is turning heads with her sexually-charged R&B tunes. Listen to her latest horny track, Incognito, here.
Self-loathing, mushroom trips and gravy baths: the long road to slowthai’s new album
The Big Interview: In an era where controversy cuts the quickest through the noise, many people have already made up their minds about slowthai. But with TYRON, the Northampton rapper wants to show us the whole story.
UK rap reload
Presenting 12 artists who’ve enjoyed a 2020 career peak against the odds.
Rated by The Face: a weekly playlist
Featuring glacial dark pop, Drogheda drill and club-rap from the Cyberpunk 2077 soundtrack.
Taylor Swift’s Evermore: here to save 2020?
With her second surprise release of the year, the singer-songwriter has come to fix, well, whatever she can.
Listen to Brittany Broski’s feeling: sad <3 playlist
Most know her as “Kombucha Girl”, but the TikTok creator and basement comedy queen has moved beyond being a meme and is sharing a more unvarnished, emotional side in her playlist.
Beabadoobee: the bubble grunge internet sensation
A 20-year-old star of the social media age, Beabadoobee is part of the first generation to have near-instant access to endless socio-cultural archives, using them to create a look that is as much Smashing Pumpkins as it is Lizzie McGuire. She is yesterday, today and, probably, tomorrow. She is MEGA.
Biig Piig finds comfort in chaos
In partnership with FILA UK
“This ain’t every man for themselves”: Rico Nasty calls for Black sisterhood
The Big Interview: Mixing sugary hyperpop with aggressive punk rap, Rico’s explosive album Nightmare Vacation is a cathartic release to cap a traumatic year.
Listen to MoMa Ready’s feel-good mix
The prolific NYC producer blends warm-hearted house and techno.
Rated by The Face: a weekly playlist
Jorja jumps on a remix of Enny’s Peng Black Girls, Chlobocop switches up her style and Blinding Lights gets a Rosalía rework.
Rounding up TikTok’s 10 biggest hits of 2020
Gen Z’s top app has released its most-streamed tracks of the year. Can you guess who made the cut? Find out here.
