Meet BLXSS, the Perth rapper reaching new heights with his latest single, Hush

Header image by Brendan Cecich.

There's no denying that Perth's hip-hop space is going through a moment of glory at the moment, thanks to both the well-known heavyweights and the exciting newcomers that seem to appear on a near-weekly basis. Over the last few years, we've seen both sides of the success line come together to provide a snapshot of the talent and excitement bounded within Perth rap and R&B, establishing a striving community on the west coast bolstered by some of the most brilliant and potential-filled acts in Australia - many of which we've introduced the world to across this time.

BLXSS is yet another force to add to the list. Originally raised in New Zealand to a Zimbabwean family, the Perth-based rapper's music explores his long-winding journey through cultures and countries with a refinement and class that feels synonymous with the future, as shown through work that has begun to emerge over the last 12 months. Ever since making an entrance with his debut single Summertime Vibin' last year, the rapper has consistently one-upped himself, getting to the point where now, every single one of his moves feels like a moment of glory - and it's an incredibly exciting thing to witness.

His new single Hush shows that once again, providing yet another testament to BLXSS' prowess as he continues to establish himself as a force worth reckoning with. Sonically, Hush brings a lot together in a short, two-and-a-half-minute duration, with dancing afrobeat-like swing rhythms and a tapestry of percussion layered underneath his darting vocal, which is technical in its lyricism yet executed with such a care-free light-heartedness that it seems like BLXSS doesn't even break a sweat.

Lyrically, Hush is a bit of a more relaxed moment from BLXSS, a little more tongue-in-cheek and . "I wrote this song to highlight my very private lifestyle," he says on the single. "Whether it’s my business or my relationships, I like to keep my circle small and loyal. So if I do decide to venture out of my circle for any reason, I prefer to have that business kept between us. This song perfectly represents how I prefer to 'Keep it on the Hush Hush.'

The single arrives via samesame records, a brand new imprint on the ADA/Warner roster that also includes a couple of other forces-to-watch in hip-hop: DoloRRes and Muka Vhatti. Then, there's also the video clip that arrives alongside it, worked on with Perth videographer Brendan Cecich.

It's clear that 2021 is proving to be an incredibly exciting time for BLXSS, and with plenty more in the pipeline, take a dive into Hush and its video clip below, and better introduce yourself to the rising weapon underneath:

Tell us about yourself?

I’m an 18-year-old Perth based rapper with a Zimbabwean heritage. I’ve grown up around music my whole life, my family is full of musically inclined individuals and I’ve been in love with music ever since I could remember. 

I began to make and release music at the age of 15, I started off releasing music onto Soundcloud just to have a bit of fun but I then quickly realised that music is something I want to take seriously as I discovered my passion for my craft grew stronger everyday.  

What’s your music like? What does it sound like? What kind of themes does it usually cover? 

My music is a fusion of UK Afro Swing and traditional HipHop/Rap. I utilise the bounce and unique melodies from Afro instrumentals and apply my unique flows and rhyme schemes. My sound derives from musicians such as NSG, Dave and Pa Salieu.   

My music is currently very light and fun, I venture into the idea of a young wild and free teenager/adult and explore the more fun aspects of life.

What are your production and writing processes usually like? 

I like to keep everything very organic when it comes to making music. Usually, I’m either in my room or in the studio just surfing through beats for hours until I find the perfect one, everything I do has to come off an initial vibe, in order for me to make a successful song I need to connect with the beat instantly. Once that happens the whole creative process just flows easily. I also don’t like to limit my creative spaces as I tend to come up with hooks or punchlines in the most random places.  

Can you tell us about your new single, Hush?

Hush delivers a tongue-in-cheek commentary of the ‘playboy lifestyle’ so beloved of the hip-hop community, espousing the benefits of casual relationships and my own code-of-conduct “when I kiss, I don’t tell”.

What do you have planned for the rest of 2021 and beyond?

For the remainder of 2021, I hope to push out at least one more single for everyone to enjoy and continue to expand my name. As for further plans I want to project my music to the rest of Australia and the world and really bring Afro swing forward as a force in the Australian music industry.

What do you want people to take away from your work? 

I want people to understand the depth of the Australian music scene and demonstrate that we can do everything and anything everybody else can do. I also want people to have the luxury of being able to immerse themselves and feel my music rather than just listen to my music because that's what I believe music it's truly about. 

Where can we find more of your music?

You can find my music on all streaming platforms, Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube etc

Follow BLXSS: INSTAGRAM