Nerve’s second full-length has been a long time coming, following his 2018 debut, Sober, and a pair of EPs in the interim. Growing Pains reveals the Brisbane rapper/producer at a whole new level, flexing his unique blend of UK grime and Australian hip-hop with more consistency and confidence than ever before. His urgency is unmistakable as he lays down rapid-fire bars over agitated, accelerated beats. Nerve also shows off his stylistic straddling of two countries in his choice of guest stars. First Nations artists Kobie Dee and BARKAA bring singsong flow and brusque swagger, respectively, to “Bad Company,” while Queensland singer Mai Elanor lends soothing neo-soul notes to “Hold It Down.” There’s equally strong representation from England, between rappers Songer and Jah Digga and producer Sir Spyro. Nerve thrives all on his own too, waxing romantic on the clubby companion pieces “You” (“The lights in your eyes stopped me in my shoes”) and “Blue” (“Now my whole world is blue, but I saw the world in you”). And though lighter lyric moments do arise here—as when he recounts being “off his face” while seeing the titular act on “Basement Jaxx”—he’s not afraid to dive headlong into the tangled intersection of betrayal, ambition, and regret in his life and career alike.