Jelani Blackman today unveils new single ‘Feel The Same', out now via 18 Records / MNRK UK. The song is the opening track of the London-born musician, rapper and singer’s long-awaited debut album, The Heart of It, due 10th November.
With its stirring live strings and melodic, Joshua William Parkinson-produced beat, ‘Feel The Same’ finds Jelani switching his smooth vocals between rapping and singing as he bemoans the state of the world. Speaking on the track he says:
“It’s a reflection of the times we’re in. It's like a lost relationship, when you know the best part is over, and you’re hanging onto what’s left, trying to find the love and purpose of things. It’s always the same cycle, except the changing of this relationship is also about reconciling with loss of the innocence we had before covid, Brexit and the reality of getting older in ideological and economic chaos. ”
“The Heart of It for me is finding love and truth in a world filled with greed and hypocrisy,” the London born artist explains. Never afraid to speak his mind, the personal and political are intertwined through 15 tracks of rich social commentary that candidly navigates his experiences of race growing up in London and in 2023, and the highs and lows of being in love. His most richly musical work yet, it brings together his myriad influences; blending rapping, singing, lush live instrumentation and heavy beats as only Jelani can, with a typically enigmatic list of features that includes Kojey Radical, Bob Vylan, Mavica and Biig Piig.
Jelani Blackman has been not so quietly forging his own lane for the best part of a decade; a rapper, singer and musician who seamlessly brings together disparate elements to create a unique sound that he’s described as afro-indie-electro-rap. This dexterity has attracted an array of collaborators to his sonic universe, from Ghetts, Fraser T Smith and Burna Boy to Gorillaz, Wolf Alice, Brian Eno and more. Equally at home calling out world leaders and unpacking the deeply personal as jumping into mosh pits at his raucous live shows, he’s picked up a raft of fans and praise from tastemakers, spurred on by a now iconic COLORS Session and the release of his much celebrated Unlimited Mixtape at the end of 2021. The Heart of It is his grandest statement yet; a body of work that is a true reflection of the artist and one that’s set to take him to the next level.
The Heart of It tracklist:
Feel The Same
My Bad
Clear
When You Feel It
Rise ft. Biig Piig
Deeper
Voice ft. Bob Vylan
Damage
Faded
Wavy ft. Mavica
Offbeat (Interlude)
Line Up
Izit ft. Kojey Radical
New World Order
Arrival
