Most of the people in the music biz I’ve asked who they’re rating right now have named Yxng Bane.
Maya Jama, Tinie Tempah, Sarah Jane Crawford, to name a few. He received Mobo noms last year, had support in the form of Rihanna, and teamed up with Maleek Berry for his latest track.
He’s finding so much support for his work, and it’s not just down to his music (his track Besties with Yungen went down pretty well), it’s his attitude. For one, when his Corner track got leaked last year he turned it into a win, ‘it means they’re interested, it’s not a negative’ he exclusively told Metro.co.uk. For another, he’s incredibly supportive of those around him.
When asked if he thought discrimination in music is still an issue, he said absolutely not, because his contemporaries are absolutely smashing.
‘I don’t think we’re there any more. Stefflon Don is doing really well. Ms Banks is doing well, so I don’t think we’re where we were. I don’t feel that way. Even our selves, black male artists are doing really, really well at the moment.
‘I don’t feel like there’s a presence of discrimination to that level. I don’t think there’s any boundaries. Mabel’s another. Jorja Smith got her Brit, Steff won Mobos. All different races are doing well.’
It’s unsurprising he’s so positive, given his amazing 2017, which saw him create huge waves with a remix of Shape Of You, and saw Rihanna use the track he named after her for her Fenty website.
‘I wouldn’t say there’s a highlight [from last year], but there’s moments when I was like ‘let’s go again, let’s go again’, he told us. ‘The reactions from fans to the remix of shape of you, there have just been several moments in the last year I have been really satisfied with and ready to do it again.’
Yxng Bane is someone you can’t label with a genre – he works across all sounds so that he can never get pigeonholed, and it’s all about expressing himself.
‘I think everybody is excited about this new Afrobeats sound,’ he said. ‘My thing has always just been to be able to express yourself, so I don’t think I have to make this type of song, it’s all about self expression. Whether it needs to be rapped or sung, however it will be delivered will be based on how I feel at the time, however I feel will get the message across clearly.’
And that’e because he’s not afraid to break the rules.
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‘I’m not a bad boy, but there’s no boundaries! I don’t limit myself,’ he laughed. ‘I encourage everyone around me not to limit themselves. That’s not being a bad boy! Breaking the rules is more about just realising there are no boundaries, just keep going.’
And with that in mind, his 2018 is looking pretty hot already. He’s now been signed up to the AfroRepublick festival alongside Wizkid and Mr Eazi, a one day festival at O2,and teased there’s plenty more where that came from.
‘There’s a tour in March,’ he revealed. ‘Loads of new music, new visuals, the clothing line, more videos, festivals. There are way more to be announced.
‘I’ve got some international festivals you’ll see me at. It’s bigger and better.’
Yxng Bane and Yungen performed live at an exclusive gig to mark the launch of the Huawei P Smart handset at the Vodafone Experience Store in London.
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METRO
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