Every Tunde song feels like a left hook. First you hear the beat: a thick slice of Bay Area or Detroit street rap, full of tumbling keys and brooding bass. And then his British-to-the-bone voice comes in, enveloping those American sonics in an unexpected marriage that conquered UK rap in the late 2010s. Born Olu Baba Tunde, the rapper grew up in South Manchester and was inspired to record after a friend of his was killed in 2018. Within months, his loose rap style and unorthodox production choices caught a buzz, starting with his blistering single “Next Up”. He rode that wave into a relentless run extending through the 2020s, including street smashes like 2021’s “Crash Bandicoot” and the EP They Land Better In Manchester with Taylor Gang rapper Berner. All throughout, he’s shown that the deep sounds of American rap are ripe for reinvention and repurposing.