blackwave - no sleep in LA (Album)

Photo Credit: Daniil Lavrovski

Belgian hip-hop duo blackwave. have shared their new album ‘no sleep in LA’, which is the follow-up to 2019’s breakthrough project 'ARE WE STILL DREAMING?'. The album includes new single, ‘I miss’.

The 11-track body of work is named after a game-changing trip to Los Angeles which gave blackwave. a rejuvenated enthusiasm to work on new music with no limits to the creative process; as if in a daze, all day and all night. Having rediscovered themselves as artists, 'no sleep in LA' is about the highs and lows of the past years, the insights they have gained, the difficulties, and the beautiful moments too.

Demonstrating a new-found musical maturity, blackwave. (comprised of rapper Jean-Valéry Atohoun and singer-producer Willem Ardui) have enriched their genre-transcending sound on ‘no sleep in LA’ with in-depth instrumentation, thoughtful lyrics and layered production. Masterfully blending soul, jazz, funk, and hip-hop elements with a nostalgic, open-minded approach, its celebrated guest features include Lute (signed to Dreamville, J.Cole's label), Abhi The Nomad (artist from Austin, Texas who met the duo in LA) and Caleborate (a good friend and old friend to blackwave. fans). Kirby, who has already collaborated with the likes of Beyoncé and Kanye West, co-wrote the new album track ‘I miss’.

Through their innate differences and juxtaposed talents, the pair’s synergistic yin to yang oozes through the album. With opener ‘back on track’ powerfully demonstrating blackwave.’s refreshed energy, ‘no sleep in LA’ also boasts the grooving 2021 single ‘recluse’ which has already garnered over 1 million Spotify streams. On ‘good day’, the duo explore conflicted feelings of trying to stay positive while being so downhearted, before multi-layered cut ‘a-okay’ sees blackwave. and Abhi The Nomad pondering on unfinished business. There’s also downtempo track ‘perfume’ and the bold ‘cracked screen’ featuring Lute, while new gospel-influenced single ‘I miss’ acts as a beautifully soulful closing track.