Kojey Radical Returns to Winning Ways with ‘Rule One’

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Welcome back, Mr. Radical! After a three-year break, London’s beloved rap poet Kojey Radical has returned in a mega way. Armed with a fistful of mandatory life lessons, he weaves his bar-heavy gritty sound with NYC references and southern rap nods.

This young man has always been an authoritative voice of reason in the UK rap scene. No matter how catchy or radio-friendly he can make his tracks, he never sacrifices his lyricism. Always unfiltered and frank, this creative refuses to fold to mainstream expectations. Consequently, he has developed into one of the nation’s most respected rap talents. In short, he simply had to resurface with something hard-knocking and resonant.

He did not disappoint. However, he didn’t achieve this alone. He enlisted West London’s rap up-and-comer Bawo to support him as a feature. Upon first listen I noted how impressed I was with Bawo’s cadence and charisma on the track. His striking verse had me digging through more of his discography. He has one-liners galore on this song: ‘Never let the wealth stop you feeling compelled.’. There are simple lessons here too: his advice to ‘Make sure you take your shawty out, it’s been a while,’ made me smirk.

Furthermore, expect polished-to-perfection production courtesy of Swindle, Owen Cutts, and Ashton Sellers. The masterminds behind top songs by the likes of Stormzy and Mahalia, they deliver a militant beat foundation for Kojey to express himself. He sounds hungry and he sounds like he’s back with a vengeance. 

With a cinematic music video that gives me David Fincher’s ‘Fight Club‘ energy, we see the toned-up rapper getting ready for a fight in the ring. Meanwhile, Bawo is on the other side of the wall representing the contemplative creative process. 

The message in this song and the accompanying visuals are clear: don’t lose your fire, keep your eyes peeled for snakes in the grass, pray, and show gratitude. As the Ghanaian-Brit teases us with this fresh release, he reminds us to keep our friends close, but our enemies closer. He gives us a taste of his wisdom and leaves us wanting more.

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