Jordan Adetunji

Blowing up with the melodic alt-rap single "Kehlani," rapper/singer Jordan Adetunji proves to be one of Belfast's most promising young talents, fusing sounds from across the genre spectrum into his infectious, alternative rap style.

Belfast-based Adetunji spent his early teens dipping his toes in various sounds -- alongside playing the trumpet in high school, the Northern Irish musician had an early passion for rapping, recording tracks to post to friends online. His first steps into the studio demonstrated equal multiplicity: though Adetunji debuted with 2020 Afrobeats single "Close 2 U," he was quick to play with alternative rock ("Wokeup!"), U.K. drill ("Around"), and melodic trap ("Angel," "Riot"), exploring his sound over a run of early singles. By 2023, he had focused on a blend of the midwest hyperpop sounds popularized by contemporaries like glaive and brakence; earworm singles "You & I" and "Go" were deeply rooted to the genre's heavily processed vocals, Jersey club-inspired bounce, and sharp, glitchy sonics. This sound continued with further singles "Things You Do," "Involved," and "Can't Lose," before the five hyperpop-influenced singles formed the bulk of his 2023 debut mixtape, Rock 'N' Rave. In 2024, he repurposed many of these ideas into rap templates instead, debuting a new sound with the sample drill-influenced "Zack & Cody." This template formed the basis of his breakout hit "Kehlani." A slipstream of melodic rap flows, thumping Jersey drum patterns, and hedonistic yearning, the June 2024 track was an overnight smash hit, racking up over 40 million streams in just a couple of weeks and earning a cosign from Kehlani herself, who invited Adetunji to perform at the launch of her 2024 album Crash. ~ David Crone