The Return Of LOWKEY

Lowkey is back and announces the long awaited sequel to his classic album ‘Soundtrack To The Struggle’ - marking this return with a defiant first single ‘The Return Of Lowkey’. 

“Someone naturally that talented, that brilliant an mc - I would be very surprised if he never comes back” Akala

Lowkey has announced his long awaited return with news that will be music to the ears of every hip hop fan in the land. After a hiatus which saw the British-Iraqi hip hop artist take time off to focus on studies and activism, he blasts back into view with brand new music for 2019 – announcing a new album and first single from it.

Dropping a single each month in the lead up to the album release, the aptly named first effort ‘The Return Of Lowkey’ does what it says on the tin. The 7 minute epic is a true statement of intent, marking a line in the sand where his next chapter begins, showcasing his bars and craft as a lyrical social commentator he is so famed for. It also features testimonies from Akala, Charlie Sloth and Ghetts in support of his work. Speaking about the track he says:

“I am happy to be back making music again and am greatly looking forward to bringing this track on the road for the April tour. In a sense this song was a collaborative effort between myself and the audience at a Manchester gig. The vocals heard in the chorus are a live recording taken from a sold out gig we did at the Gorilla venue in 2016.”

Early support has come from Toddla T who premiered it on his Radio 1 show, whilst GRM Daily host the official music video. Further support has come from Bobby Friction who has already made it his Record Of The Week on BBC Asian Network. In recent weeks Lowkey has spoken at the Oxford Union and has just announced a headline show at The Royal Albert Hall with Lyrix Organix on 27^th February.

‘The Return Of Lowkey’ is taken from the highly anticipated album ‘Soundtrack To The Struggle 2’ which is out on his own label on 7^th April 2019. The album acts as a sequel to his last official album, 2011’s highly acclaimed ‘Soundtrack To The Struggle’ which at the time BBC’s Charlie Sloth described as “the best album of the year, no probably THE best album of the past few years period!” 

Highlights from the album include ‘Ghosts of Grenfell (feat Mai Khalil)’ and ‘Ahmed’, both of which act as benchmarks for the quality of songs throughout the album. Official videos for such tracks have garnered millions of views on YouTube and Facebook with support coming from Lilly Allen, Russell Brand, Frankie Boyle, JME and many other influential figures. ‘Ghosts Of Grenfell’ song was featured heavily on BBC Radio 4’s World At One where Lowkey has been interviewed several times, whilst MP for Kensington, Emma Dent Coad described him as a “poet laureate for Grenfell Tower.”

Musically, perhaps best known for his two explosive and thought provoking Fire In the Booth freestyles, his socially conscious approach to hip hop sets him apart from most of his contemporaries. Sitting in a space alongside long time collaborator Akala, Lowkey uses his music to challenge the status quo and injustices both at home in London and worldwide.

Lowkey has worked with Immortal Technique, Wretch 32, Akala, Dead Prez and The Outlawz. He is part of the super group Mongrel alongside members of the Arctic Monkeys, Babyshambles and Reverend and the Makers. The band released their album Better than Heavy in tandem with the Independent newspaper.

His critically acclaimed music has received millions of streams on Spotify, sold over 25k albums digitally and garnered over 45 million YouTube views. His independently released album Soundtrack to the Struggle (2011) charted #6 in the UK RnB chart, #9 in the UK Indie chart, #14 in the UK Download chart and #57 in the UK Albums chart. He was included in MTV Base Best of the Best UK MCs two years in a row. Charting at #10 in 2010 and #7 in 2011.

His community work around the Grenfell fire led to his recent appointment as director of performing arts for the Kids on The Green charity, assisting rehabilitation of children in the area. Lowkey was commissioned by Theatre Royal, Bath to write a Hip Hop version of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, which was performed there and was also performed as part of the Edinburgh Festival.