Avelino

From acclaimed mixtapes to headline shows and record-breaking freestyles, Avelino’s rapid rise over the past two years is testament to both his tenacity and his natural talent. Noted for his lyrical, melodic approach to rapping, he brings a freedom of expression and a deep sense of craft to his artistry that he first began honing while sat head down at the back of the classroom in school. It was the only thing, he says, that could truly hold his attention. Full name Achi Jean Avelino, he set out to make his surname a household staple following the death of his father. And in the short time since he first started putting his voice down on record, he’s gone a long way to achieving just that. His 2014 mixtape, Iconic Ambition, was picked up by scene tastemaker DJ Semtex – whose backing has propelled the likes of Dizzee Rascal and J Hus into the stratosphere – and featured in his ‘Mixtape Top 5’ on BBC Radio 1Xtra. A subsequent collaboration with Stormzy saw him join the now-chart topping MC on tour in 2015 – and their relationship has continued into 2017, with the pair collaborating on another track, ‘Energy’, along with Mercury Prize-winning grime pioneer Skepta. The track has since been adopted by EA Sports as a lead song on the flagship FIFA 18 title. That year also saw him appear twice on Charlie Sloth’s ‘Fire In The Booth’ series. His solo appearance on the show in November has racked up more than half a million views on YouTube. For his second outing in the titular booth, Avelino was joined by fellow Tottenham MC Wretch 32. It went live in December 2015 and became the fastest ‘Fire In The Booth’ clip to hit a million views on the platform. To date, it’s been watched more than 9 million times. The pair followed up their iconic FITB segment with sold out headline shows and a ground-breaking collaborative mixtape, titled Young Fire, Old Flame. Plenty have been quick to compare Avelino with Wretch 32, on account of the depth of their lyrical content, deep tones, and razor sharp wordplay. It’s an association the young MC wears with pride: he describes Wretch as a brother, a mentor, and a levelling influence. Since then, the momentum has stayed with him. As well as the release of the F.Y.O EP, 2016 saw him nominated as Best Newcomer in the 2016 MOBO Awards, and included on BBC Radio 1Xtra’s ‘Hot For 2017’ list – the rundown that predicts the artists who are tipped for big things in the world of black music and beyond over the coming twelve months. So far this year, he’s released a clutch of singles, as well as the aforementioned ‘Energy’, and spent the summer packing out festival fields across the UK. The autumn will see the release of his latest project, No Bullshit. He describes it as a “playlist” as he envisions it as a body of work that may grow and change shape over time – throwing off the shackles of the traditional album format, allowing the project to evolve and devlop as Avelino himself continues to grow as an artist. The project is another example of Avelino’s willingness to stretch and commit himself to his craft, not only in its pioneering, fluid format but also in the range of styles he can stretch his lyrical prowess to. From straight-talking rap playbook pieces, to streetwise storytelling and dembow-flecked party anthems, the whole thing is endowed with the thoughtful essence that’s captured so many tastemakers’ attentions over the past few years. No Bullshit ends with a statement. A final tune, that elsewhere might be simply called an ‘outro’, in Avelino’s hands becomes the ‘Outro 2 Da Beginning’. This, it would seem, is just the start… “Avelino’s is a style that demands attention” CLASH “This is high-octane blockbuster grime that explores into life” - FACT Avelino aka 'Young Fire' is a rapper from North London. His unique tone and wordplay won't go unnoticed.