Following an incredible momentum as we look back on the March release “Long Time No See”, London’s rap riser Arz is back and this time making a statement. Side stepping from his reputable emotionally-charged sound, Arz leans into a higher tempo with his latest single, “Hostage”. As we gear up for the summer months ahead, the trailblazer is turning the heat up in this brand-new drop.

Set to feature on his forthcoming mixtape, Arz boasts his versatility in this two-stepping track. Sonically steering away from the emotionally-charged beats we are accustomed to, Arz joins forces with producer Oakland to create a Grime-influenced backdrop that samples a 90’s sounding release. Creating a fine balance between skanking with your friends at the party to pulling you in lyrically with his heartfelt penmanship, Arz continues to solidify his trailblazer status with “Hostage”. Accompanied with a music video shot during his time in New York City, “Hostage” reflects on the intricacies of a relationship with a fellow love interest.

Speaking on the making of the track Arz commented, “Hostage is probably one of my favs on the tape just for the fact it’s so new. I feel like I’ve never dropped anything on a heavily grime influenced beat. The beat is ridiculous. My guy Oakland is prolific in making these jumpy UK bangers. This track will undoubtedly have you skanking and holding back tears at the same time LOL. I shot this video on my New York trip in January way in advance just because we really knew it would be a supporters favourite. I love dipping in and out of vocal samples that move the heart & this one is extremely special.”

Swiftly finding viral success with his break-out single “Alone With You” back in 2021, Arz went against the norm and led by good example, detailing the intricacies of love and relationships in his music. Captivating a global audience with the use of lo-fi beats and sample-woven production, Arz managed to set himself aside from others alike, creating a cult-like fan-base that spans beyond the UK borders. Dropping his debut album ‘Can’t Commit’ in 2023 which gained an abundance of praises online, the London native has since solidified himself as one to watch.

Gaining support from Clash Magazine, Complex UK, COLORS, Reprezent, Kiss 100, Kiss Fresh, Deutschlandfunk Nova (DE), BBC Radio 1Xtra and triple j (AUS), from his March release “Long Time No See”, not to mention featuring on Spotify’s ‘FNMNL’ playlist. “Long Time No See” accumulated over 278,000 streams altogether. Recently supporting American rapper Kota the Friend at The Garage in London at the end of March, Arz is showing no signs of slowing down. As we await his highly anticipated mixtape dropping later this year, it’s safe to say Arz has already made significant moves so far in 2024.