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Photo: @aritrussme

As his name suggests, South-East London’s Jim Legxacy is here for something much bigger.

Once in pursuit of a career in graphic design, you can still hear the influence of the rapper’s love for the digital in his production. Manipulating audio and designing motion, he’s exercising the same muscle and pulling from his own unique palette. Legxacy’s flavor profile, complete with African-inspired percussion and pop-adjacent sounds, is a self-curated sauce one can only mimic.

21 years old, bred from a generation with an acute attention span and affinity for quick punchlines, he’s made it a point to remain devoted to the true art of rap. A child of a Nigerian immigrant undergoing the hardships of racial adversity, his lyrics reek of disdain and heartbreak, alongside the valiant strength that comes with being an honest storyteller.

But what’s most compelling is that when he isn’t rapping, he’s making emo drill tracks that tell tales of devoured love. With vocals that can only be described as a harp with sentiency, his latest single “dj” platforms his pure and pristine voice, all the while honoring his signature alt-afrobeat. It’s both heartfelt and lighthearted, just one of his many polarities.

Sampling the beloved “Candy Rain” on his standout track "candy reign (!)" was an ambitious move for a newcomer, and it happens to be the very single that perked up the world’s ears. It’s one of the smoothest flips in recent memory, garnering respect from those who grew up on the track and are just being introduced to it alike. 

Legxacy is wide-eyed and curious, letting his unexpected pivot into music be an invitation to get to know himself along the way. Spilling truths of his inner world over a fever dream fusion of drill, jersey, and afrobeat is a feat artists with a fixed sense of self wouldn’t dare to take on.

It’s his humility and bravery as an artist that makes Legxacy so significant. From the purity of his intention to the truth he platforms, you can’t help but want to see him win. He’s a hero who makes it easy to root for, and it’s a pleasure to see his rise.