Wappa's latest, "Rainy Day In Downham," is a scene, a snapshot, a feeling, and a chiseled narrative wrapped up in raw emotion and razor-sharp bars. The London rapper once again demonstrates that he's a force, etching his name onto the UK Hip-Hop slate with honesty and hunger, marked by heavy lyricism. In pure Wappa Style, Conscious and alternative Hip-Hop, Wappa manages to weave a storm, both literally and figuratively.
Backed by cool, understated beats that sound like gray skies and cracked pavement, he serves up lines that swim in introspection and realism. This is the sound of someone traipsing through the rain with his head held high and eyes wide open, telling the story of a trip that was too heavy. The selection of the beat is subtle yet effective, allowing Wappa's voice to shine. The effect is intimate, like a walk-and-talk through South London's lesser-sung streets.
There's something cinematic about this track. "Rainy Day In Downham" feels perseverance, reflection, and survival are decidedly global. This is the kind of music for the thinkers, the grinders, the people who know that growth frequently comes accompanied by a storm. And if this single is anything to go by for the future of Wappa, UK Hip-Hop may just have a new voice to put their money on.