Melodic rap has been present for almost as long as the core genre itself and with each new era, a new pocket is presented. From vocal heavy production in the 90s to the rise of MC’s who employed a silky flow that felt a notch away from singing in the 2000s. Trap-wave quickly became one of the neo-genres with the likes of and in the states and and in the UK. On this side of the pond, the rise of the aforementioned names quickly introduced an era where the sound was at the top spot, Although many of the artists are now cemented at the apex of the scene, there’s a conversation to be had about the perceived decline of the sound. 

North West London based producer is a pave-maker of trap-wave, lending his prowess to British favourites , , , Nines, Potter Payper and more. His efforts have seen him prized with 7x Silver-Certified plaques and he continues to hold the torch as the new gen arises. Setting out with a plan to shine a light on the brightest new talent in the space, he commissions a mixtape with the intent to ‘Make Wave Great Again’. Coming out from behind the booth after almost a decade in the game – the ‘Make Wave Great Again’ project acts as his debut. We sat down with him to talk about the project, all things trap-wave. 

The seven-track tape calls on verses from OGs and upcomers alike, to this QuincyTellEm says: “The tape is based around them [the newer acts], but I’ve put people around them already have a platform already so that I can open their listeners ears to these other artists[…] Figs0, Treez0, Azuki, for example, they’re still building. But I’ve mixed them in with M Huncho and Nafe Smallz, who have already got a massive platform, that’s the concept”. The intro also kicks off with a soundbite from the infamous Max B, a statement in itself.

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Quincy and M Huncho’s music careers have been in parallel for years; it’s almost impossible to think about one’s music without in turn thinking about the other’s. The production across M Huncho’s acclaimed discography has always been something QuincyTellEm has had a hand in but he talks about stepping away from that loyal working relationship with this new run. He says: “Now I feel like I have the platform to make a change in the game… I’m trying to build my own lane, I need something for myself. Which is why I’m trying to align myself with the new generation and if I can put myself in a position where we can find the next M Huncho or DBE, I want to be a part of that”.

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‘5 Shots’ from the mixtape is led by buzzing risers Laicositna and Figs0, it journeys slightly out of the soundscape to pick up some R&B elements – similar to that of the rapper’s personal output. The globally seasoned producers stories his time spent honing in on his skills and catering to different sounds. He doesn’t want to be known as just M Huncho’s producer but his own creative entity. 

Talking on the current status of trap-wave and its presence, he notes that many of the creme de la creme are still prevailing at the top level and says that “wave is still very much alive!”

He’s not putting the ownership on those artists to do the hard work but passionately presents the idea that wha’ts missing is the lack of cosign and community. “There is no cosign for the biggest in our scene for the new generation[…] they don’t have the GRM’s and the bigger platforms from exposure nowadays[…] these guys are having to start on their own channel with 0 subscribers, it takes a lot of money and marketing”.

He smiles and adds: “If they’re not going to do it, I’m going to do it on behalf of them!”

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With much of the sound that trap-wave offers rooted in the same non-straying themes, MWGA reflects that but is notably refreshing at times. The ‘Azuki Interlude’ a heartfelt drop, whilst ‘Patience’ featuring M Huncho and Kilo Jugg is underlaid by a glimmering electronic trap beat. A selection of self-proclaimed hand-picked talent put their best foot forward. 

Moving with the times can feel like a sad reality for musicians but Quincy expresses his excitement not only to deliver something new but to showcase a movement he’s been quietly cooking up for a while. The ‘Make Wave Great Again’ release stands to be the first of many volumes that calls on trap-wave verses from across the world. GeeYou, wewantwraiths,Yung Fume, AM, Retro Green..] all mentioned as names who didn’t make the cut can be expected to be heard on Vol 2. Taking in Parisian R&B and Portuguese tunes, his hunger to deliver is also reflected in his listening habits. The rolling 808 aficionado is keen to expand and keep on bolstering his native genre – this tape marks the start, with a successor expected this Autumn and producer-artist projects also on the horizon. He closes saying, “this is just the foundation”. 

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Words: Shanté Collier-McDermott 

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