Hope - Been Up Since Yesterday (EP)
After sending social media into a frenzy with his recent single “Boujee Babe” and his “On The Radar Freestyle” accumulating more than 400,000 streams collectively, 23-year-old Hackney-native Hope (aka Hope Ikpoku Jnr) has unveiled his highly-anticipated surprise debut EP entitled “Been Up Since Yesterday”.
Having teased an upcoming project to his half-a-million TikTok followers and 180,000 Instagram followers over the past few months, this three-track surprise drop acts as a birthday gift to himself and his supporters - an electric project representative of his journey and sound to date. “Been Up Since Yesterday” captures Hope’s journey in the industry so far whilst also proving himself as a firm one to watch in the International music industry. Produced by F1 and Cervo and executively produced by Tinkz, trap-incorporated drums amongst meticulously crafted melodies in “Anticlimactic” and “Recalibrate” allow Hope to showcase his dynamic lyricism, with the middle track “Yardie” exploring a more emphatic and infectious production and vibe.
Connecting with his audience through his unapologetically honest and raw lyricism, “Been Up Since Yesterday” is an incredibly memorable debut EP fuelled with substance, blending Hope’s signature mix of interchanging flows and commercially charged-up productions. The release comes just two weeks after he performed on a Kano-curated event line-up alongside Skrapz, Bashy, and ENNY to name a few.
“It’s important to introduce myself through a body of work, one that demonstrates my sound well and gives a window into what I have to offer for the future. To drop this independently - no label, no budget, no help - just me and my friends producing music and dropping on my birthday, this drop is special to me so I hope people give it the time of day and see I’m here to stay” - Hope
Speaking on the name of the EP, Hope says : “Been Up Since Yesterday is one of my favourite mottos - if me or my guys say we are busy, that’s exactly what we mean. We’re forever working, forever active, forever thinking of what’s next”.
Determined not to be boxed into one singular creative path, as cleverly lyricised in his single “Can’t Box Me”, East London, Hackney native Hope (aka Hope Ikpoku Jnr) is a multi-talented creative who needs no introduction.
Now, Hope re-emerges from a brief hiatus, having developed a soundscape that offers a narrative window into his compelling storytelling ability. Packed with meaningful lyricism and clever punchlines, Hope is ready to share his truth with the world. Working tirelessly behind the scenes to curate music fuelled by substance and passion, producing powerfully introspective bodies of work. This gives the young star a chance to define himself further, not only as an artist fast on the rise but as an artist with a message to offer.