Dhruva Balram, Author at NME

Sons of Kemet – ‘Black To The Future’ review: rage, resentment – and hope

This is the experimental jazz quartet's incendiary evocation of Black Lives Matter

AJ Tracey – ‘Flu Game’ review: UK rapper remains in a league of his own

The Londoner bills himself as music's Michael Jordan with an ode the player's infamous 1997 match

AJ Tracey: “I’ve gone through so much. It’s been so hard, and I’m still here”

The west London rapper on his slam-dunk of a new album, ‘Flu Game’, and why he’s UK rap’s answer to Michael Jordan

Kam-Bu: “‘Black on Black’ has negative connotations – I want to turn that on its head”

Kam-Bu reflects on his work with Leon Vynehall and writing a "revolutionary" song inspired by Fela Kuti

ZAYN – ‘Nobody Is Listening’ review: ex-boybander crafts quietly purposeful pop

The former One Directioner's last album 'Icarus Falls', was a critical hit but commercial flop. Here he swaps maximalism for simplicity

Pa Salieu: “I’ve been cut from the system, but I will rise up like a phoenix”

The Coventry star is sitting pretty atop this year’s NME 100 list, and his journey to this point has been powered by determination and faith in his talents

AJ Tracey – ‘Secure The Bag! 2’ EP review: UK rap don goes back to his roots with surprise release

This sequel is a largely a solo affair designed to showcase the MC's unique talent

K-Trap: “People are finally starting to realise that I’m more than just drill”

By taking off his bally last year, the Londoner wanted to use his new platform to showcase an all-encompassing story of his life so far

Five things we learned from our In Conversation video chat with Yxng Bane

The London star on his upcoming debut album, Boys II Men and going off-grid

Pa Salieu – ‘Send Them To Coventry’ review: debut mixtape confirms rapper as UK’s next star

The Coventry-based artist celebrates a breakout year with an accomplished collection of tales of life from the West Midlands