808INK

South London rap duo 808INK don't adhere to trends in music, instead crafting their own brand of left-field rap and accompanying visuals. The project began when producer 808charmer -- a former live session drummer who has worked with the likes of M.I.A. and Tinie Tempah -- heard rapper Mumblez Black Ink performing on a video shoot. 808 was so impressed with Ink's odd flow and dark lyrics that he chased him down the street to ask about a collaboration; they rounded out the crew with visual artist and director Pure Anubi$. Their debut mixtape, 2013's Artistic Piece, demonstrated their specific vision, pairing visuals with eclectic production and non sequitur lyrics. Two years later they readied their debut full-length album, 2015's Billy's Home, which put them firmly on the underground radar, aided by the hook-laden single "Suede Jaw." Despite critical acclaim, the group remained relatively obscure, regularly appearing on critics' Ones to Watch lists at the start of every year, yet not experiencing the same level of success as some of their more accessible peers. Over the course of the next two albums, 2016's Hungry and 2018's When I'm About, You'll Know, their sound had become disassociated with much of London's rap scene, to the point where they referred to the city as Lundun, clarifying the distinct difference between themselves and the trends of the time, namely second-wave grime and U.K. drill. ~ Liam Martin