Premiere: Jesse James Solomon Proves His Worth On "I Hope You Knew"

"A true story that speaks for itself..."

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Image via Complex UK

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One of the best rappers in the country under 25—even through brief periods of quiet and inactivity—the precocious talent of Jesse James Solomon is still on the rise. Late last year, Complex went down to Jesse's south London ends for our My Block series, where he primed his eagerly-awaited debut, saying: "There's a lot of stories on the album about my childhood and growing up around this area." The first of these, "City Lights", came at the back end of last month, and revealed the childlike wonder and hope from his debut EP has now been replaced with a more pensive and weary outlook on life.

Today, Jesse serves up more in the same vein with "I Hope You Knew". Almost an interlude, of sorts, the track opens out with distorted vocal wailing (reminiscent of MBDTF-era Kanye), which subsides as Solomon attaches gravitas to his words by cleverly working within the gaps of the Felix Joseph-produced beat.

"A true story that speaks for itself," this one deserves repeat listens. 

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