Shining a light on the incredible and sensational British Black music in the world is XVR BLCK with the release of his new EP “The Blckout”. This EP acts as Vol. 1 of his three EP projects that he is set to release over the next 12 months with the intention to give British Black music the spotlight. The release of this five-track EP acts as the follow-up to XVR BLCK’s collaboration with Mark Asari on the single “U-Turn”.
XVR BLCK, is a talented producer hailing from Hackney, East London, who has emerged as a rising star in the music industry. Growing up surrounded by the sounds of iconic producers like Timbaland, DarkChild, Jermaine Dupri, and Kaytranada, XVR BLCK found inspiration to craft his own unique sound. Rooted in R&B, his music effortlessly blends captivating melodies with elements from diverse genres such as drill, rap, Afrobeats, dancehall, pop, and garage. This fusion creates a modern and dynamic sonic experience that sets him apart. Recognized by respected tastemakers including BBC 1Xtra, Capital Xtra, KISS FM, Spotify, and Apple Music, XVR BLCK is on a mission to bring UK R&B to global recognition. With his ongoing “BLCKOut” project, set to unfold over the next 12 months, XVR BLCK aims to showcase the immense talent within UK R&B and propel it onto the international stage. With a string of upcoming releases lined up for the year, XVR BLCK’s passion for music and collaborative spirit continue to drive his journey towards musical excellence.
The five-track EP, titled “The Blckout”, sees XVR BLCK collaborate with some of the UK’s best rising black talent, Ryan De La Cruz, SNE, Nicolas Alexander, 1ZerO, Gimme2Minutes, and Rashaan B. All five tracks are statement pieces in their own right and we’re not surprised to see these five tracks being used as part of the first EP in this project.
Stream “The Blckout” by XVR BLCK on Spotify here:
The EP starts off with “Check the Portfolio” which is a collaboration with 1Zer0. This track has deep R&B grooves which emphasise the hip-hop vocals coming from 1Zer0, with piano arrangements and awesome harmonic backing vocals. This opens the EP with the perfect vibe of power and intent, making the listener know that this EP is going to be epic and that these artists are established in their own right – this isn’t their first rodeo. “Serious” follows next which sees XVR BLCK collaborate with Nicolas Alexander adding a more chilled sonic R&B energy as the addicting male vocal cuts in with emotional honesty. Nicolas Alexander shines throughout the track with iconic vocals, rhythmic rap flow, and an awesome soulful chorus that we can’t stop listening to.
The third track is “Too Deep” is a collaboration with Gimme2Minutes and Rashaan B. The track fuses R&B with reggae and soul to give this melodic tone surrounded by an incredible male vocal that impresses with awesome vocal runs and heartfelt emotion. A surprising twist to this song sees a soulful electronic guitar instrumental bolstered by a backing piano arrangement that just effortlessly speaks to the listener and is integral to the track, allowing all three artists to showcase their music abilities. This leans more towards a pop ballad track that definitely reminds us of something Jason Derulo would release – this is a total stand-out track from the EP and one we could listen to on repeat for days, those silky smooth vocals give us chills throughout, and that instrumental is just pure perfection.
Following this track is “Penbeni”, a collaboration between XVR BLCK and Ryan De La Cruz, which is the party-starter R&B track of “The Bckout” EP. Upbeat, addicting, rhythmic, and melodic, this is determined to make you move with dancehall vibes and soulful vocals. The repeated title line in the chorus will certainly have you singing along by the end. The last track on the EP is “Eastside”, which sees XVR BLCK team up with SNE. This one was an early fan favourite, really showcasing XVR BLCK’s incredible production ability, fusing his signature R&B sound into a chilled laid-back hip-hop vibe that later gets flipped into an upbeat rap energy. SNE brings it throughout the track with impactful lyrics and awesome hip-hop vocals allowing him to showcase his full range and effortless ability to traverse across different energies.
Stream our favourite song, from the EP, titled “Too Deep” on Spotify here:
“The Blckout”, by XVR BLCK, is an incredible collection of R&B tracks which sees him collaborate with some of the best UK rising black talent and we are totally here for it. Strong, powerful, and effortlessly making an impact, this first volume from XVR BLCK’s three-EP project excites us for what Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 will bring to the table as XVR BLCK is clearly a phenomenal artist. This brand-new EP is available to download and stream, right now, across all platforms, via BLCK RCRDS.