blackwave.

About

" A Belgian hip-hop tsunami "

Belgian rap is riding high and the duo behind blackwave. seem to confirm the trend. The proof ? Their shows have turned heads at many summer music festivals (including Rock Werchter), and recently their song ‘a-okay’ was confirmed as part of the official EA SPORTS FIFA 23 playlist. Most importantly, there’s also the release of their second album ‘no sleep in LA’, three years after their impressive debut ‘ARE WE STILL DREAMING?’.

It wasn’t always so simple. The story of this Belgian-based duo composed of producer Willem Ardui and rapper Jay Walker, began in 2016. At the time, the childhood friends aimed to create a hip-hop project with some jazz and soul influences.
Success came in 2017 with the release of a first EP ‘Mic Check’, followed by three singles, ‘GoodEnough’, ‘Whasgood?!’ and ‘Swangin’’ in 2018.

Influenced by retro-funk from the 60s and American hip-hop all the way from the 90s up to today, the music of Willem and Jay oscillates between organic soul and hip-hop with funky accents. The half-sung, half-rapped lyrics mix perfectly with their energetic, yet chilled out, casual beats. It’s a blend that can sometimes remind you of a Loyle Carner or Anderson Paak…but made in Belgium.

With their first album ‘ARE WE STILL DREAMING?’ In 2019, Blackwave won national and international recognition. At the same time, the duo travelled to LA, for a taste of the American way of life, and to find some new musical inspiration for that second album.

Back in Belgium, the pandemic put an end to the good vibes and plunged the group into a deep existential crisis. After some full on discussions and the release of the single ‘recluse’ in 2021, blackwave were back on track. Today we can only recommend you listen to the 11 new chapters that make this new second album,
inspired by their trip in the City of Angels. Dive into the hip-hop, soul and jazzy universe of these two Ontwerpers you’ll just keep hearing about.

Photo : @constance.captures