Barney Artist

Barney Artist's style brings me back to the days of listening to the lo-fi, jazz-inspired groups like De la Soul, Pharcyde, and A Tribe Called Quest. The beats and production bring me back to those early days of underground hip-hop that I wish were still around. This 23-year-old rapper comes from a small town in East London, yet has managed to hook up with all the right people. He's teamed up with BBC music to get the word out, he's worked with Alfa Mist (who's featured on and produced this track), Tom Misch, and Jordan Rakei, and he is also currently on tour in the UK. Go support this dude if you live in the UK! While his style reminds me of a cleaner version of early Nas, his own unique, British style is very apparent. "Lonely Place," is some rainy day hip-hop and simplicity is key to its hook. A couple notes on the piano, a simple bass-line and mellow vocals have my head nodding the entire way through. Check out his latest album, Bespoke on SoundCloud, it's legit.