A glimmering EP traversing beauty and hardship with a sword-like incision
You might know Blanco for his singular blend of skeletal drill and baile funk — and now the London-based rapper is propelling his one-of-a-kind sound even further. Titled Paradise on a Lifeboat (a nod to the cult-favourite anime saga Naruto), his latest EP fully embodies the oxymoronic nature of its name, sonically and lyrically illuminating coexistence of beauty and struggle.
From UK grime inspirations to Angolan Kuduro, Blanco skips over genres with proven dexterity, layering over incisive lyricism that confronts social issues, conflict and global unrest. Blanco describes the EP as a filler arc of his artistic cannon — “a moment between the main chapter, but still important to the story.” Within that, Paradise on a Lifeboat is a more intimate snapshot into Blanco’s hopscotching mastermind, reaffirming his place as one the UK rap’s most innovative and thought-provoking voices.
Words by Evita Shrestha
Photography by Sophia Carey
