Today,Chiedu Orakamakes his long-awaited return with the announcement of his new EPKwechirito be released November 18th alongside the release of new single‘Cocoa Butter’. It marks both a victory lap and sonic departure for “The Black Yorkshireman” following a meteoric year supportingThe Streets, being hand-picked byColdplayto open their two shows in Oraka’s hometown of Hull and an extensive profile inThe Guardian. A generational rapper and social activist, the journey toKwechiri– is captured in new spotlight documentaryWho Dares Wins.
The Hull hip-hop titan is one of our finest national storytellers: his bars capture the Black, working-class experience from the council estates of the north with wit, grit and heart – but ‘Cocoa Butter’ (produced by Oliver Reese) captures the first taste of a new, dancefloor-focused sound from an EP defined by risk and experimentation. It’s accompanied with a video which sees “The Black Yorkshireman” cast as a cowboy, the Yorkshire frontier as the desert in a tale of honour, rivalry and defying the odds.
Speaking on the single, Chiedu Oraka shares:“I’m very proud of my performance on ‘Cocoa Butter’. I feel like me and the producer Oliver Reese created a sound which has taken my artistry to a different level. The switching of my flows and vocal tones really complement this insane production. The guitar solo at the end is definitely a chef kiss moment. This song proves once again that I have gone up another level when it comes to songwriting. This is what happens when you have no ego in the room. Just two working class kids wanting to create something that will leave the listener wanting to salsa – and just remember this was made in the north. Who would have thought…”
The EP’s titleKwechiri– an Igbo translation to“Resilience”and a nod to his Nigerian roots – is a theme its making brought into sharp relief. After being involved in a car crash on his way to his first songwriting camp, he has a decision to go home and write off the week – but he made the decision to persevere even when he had every reason not to. It was written and recorded in a single week; a game-changing project created against all odds.
Speaking his vision for the EP, Chiedu shares:“Kwechiri for me really pushes the envelope and comes at a time in my life where I have shown real growth as a human being and as an artist. This project was probably the most enjoyable one I’ve done, which is pretty mad because it has also been the most challenging. What you are hearing is the result of a sensational week where I was tested but didn’t fail; I just embraced it and made the most impactful music of my career so far.”
Its announcement follows on from his EP released earlier this year,Undeniable. It’s a mantra which now reflects the truth of the Hull hip-hop titan’s journey, charting underground notoriety to mainstream recognition. The EP was also an amplification for the community of Black creatives in Yorkshire who Chiedu has bonded with through his art.‘Acra Freestyle’is named after the fashion house which collaborated with the rapper to createThe Black Yorkshireman Collectionwhich was documented in Vogue and GQ; it’s a shared victory which celebrates the council estate confidence that has taken him to the top of his local scene to national and global acclaim.
In 2024, Chiedu Oraka released his 12-track mixtapeMisfit(released via Launchpad+ and EMI North in April 2024) delved deep into themes of Black identity, masculinity, mental health, and the struggles of living on society’s margins. The project earned widespread critical acclaim, with praise fromCRACK, NME, Clash, DJ Mag, The Telegraph,andWonderland, features from mental health platform,CALMand strong support acrossBBC Radio 1, 6Musicand1Xtra.“Helly Hansen 6”landed on BBC 6Music’s C List for four weeks consecutively, and Oraka made history as BBC Radio 1’s first Future Flex freestyle performer for Sian Eleri.
Stay tuned for more to come from The Black Yorkshireman.