London rapper Shemsta has just dropped his latest single, "Madting," and it's all the scene needs. With raw authenticity, this grimy anthem is a statement track that fuses hip-hop, rap, and trap into something that sounds new yet familiar. "Madting" is a track you want to turn up to feel its energy. Shemsta's unique cadence holds us all ransom from the first lyric, bouncing over sparse drums and nasty basslines like he was born for this.
This track has an unshakeable London essence, with each bar and each beat steeped in the neon soul of the city's pulse, the street culture. But even though it comes from grime, "Madting" doesn't listen like it's rooted in any genre. It's a versatile selection that shows Shemsta's skill at integrating styles to create something that feels entirely his own.
The authenticity of "Madting" is its point of distinction. At a moment when so many artists are chasing sounds, Shemsta is sticking to the gritty, unapologetic sound that helped bring London's rap scene to prominence. His flow is caustic and entertaining, and his lyrics are packed with true-to-life anecdotes that reverberate on a playlist starved for sustenance in a sea of surface-level smashes. Whether on the hooks or those hard-hitting verses, "Madting" evokes the gritty nature of street life with introspection and enough bounce to hit the club.
Shemsta doesn't escape his influences, yet he makes his own lane. The track is urgent but also catchy enough to urge repeated play. "Madting" is indicative of London's blossoming musical scene, and it's evident that Shemsta is one to watch in this scene. It's proof of his prowess, building excitement for what he brings us next.