Berna - Straight Outta Newham (Official Video)
East London rapper Berna returns with his new single ‘Straight Outta Newham’ ahead of his ‘EAST2ESSEX’ mixtape.
Sampling the legendary Roy Ayers ‘Sunshine’, Berna paints an honest and often bleak picture of the borough he spent his formative years. Newham has remained one of the most dangerous London boroughs to this day, with tension continuing to rise, but it will always be home for Berna. Newham is where he made lifelong friends and memories, and it’s the painful place where he lost his brother and spent the best of 12 years before his mother uprooted his family to Essex. ‘Straight Outta Newham’ is a biographical tale of Berna’s life in East, the bus he took, and the things he saw with no frills attached, which is reflected in the video. The Luke Hallan production gave him the space to tell his story viscerally with detailed bars on the life he’s led.
Born in Cape Town, raised in East London by his Congolese mum, and now based in Essex, Berna was only 16 when his legendary Bl@ckbox freestyle went viral. He then became the youngest rapper to ever go on Fire In The Booth and holds a unique place within the scene, having received such prestigious accolades so young. He rapidly rose to prominence due to his impressive flow and wordplay and is known never to shy away from freestyle and has performed on; Bl@ckbox, Daily Duppy, Mad About Bars, to name a few. Overnight success comes with its growing pains, but now, still only 24, Berna has arrived into his most content and confident era yet and has shed a lot of grief over the past years through his music. Influenced by Meek Mill, Chip, Skepta and Ghetts, Berna was raised on the greats, which has hugely impacted his style today, stating he’s an older man stuck in a young man's body.
Hungry as ever to make his mark, 2023 is undoubtedly his year, and with his forthcoming project, EAST2ESSEX, he is poised to be among the best. Entering into a new stage of his life and looking forward, his new music reflects where he’s now, relishing opportunities to express himself and spreading good vibes.