2022 was an immense year for the Sheffield music scene. We saw the long awaited return of one of our greatest exports in Pulp, the release of the much anticipated 6th studio album by Arctic Monkeys to critical acclaim and the biggest instalment of Tramlines to date. 2023 is already shaping up to be just as good, and it starts with news of a new kid on the block.
Sliime is one of the most exciting products in the UK right now and has burst onto the scene, ready to challenge the industry and put Bengali rap on the map… And if his online presence is anything to go by, he’s about to do just that. The artist and producer has already amassed a staggering 53 million views on TikTok – a number that continues to grow with ongoing hype.
The Sheffield lad already has plenty of fans within the industry and has received co-signs from the likes of Stormzy and Headie One and has already been signed to Columbia Records making him labelmates with Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen and Harry Styles amongst others.
His most recent single, ‘Lehenga’, is a song “made to represent South Asians in Rap, to make our voice louder so it can be heard by millions worldwide” as said by Sliime himself. The video showcases him spitting bars at various locations around Sheffield. This latest single honours the Lehenga (a traditional ankle-length skirt from the Indian subcontinent) and follows previous release ‘Boishaki Mela’ which saw him named BBC Introducing ‘Artist of the Week’ on the Asian Network.
Talking about his new single Sliime says, “We are massively underrepresented & I’m here to change that so Asian kids can see people that look like them achieving success and acceptance amongst wider communities. I’m so happy I’ve created something that’s engaged South Asian women especially to feel empowered about themselves & the way they dress – it’s beautiful & I’m glad they’re getting the props they deserve.”
On a relentless mission to break barriers, climb the industry ladder and bring different South Asian influences to the UK wave sound. Sliime gained a huge following for participating in Headie One’s ‘Pound Signs’ competition and receiving accolades from both the artist and Tiffany Calver for his sound and performance. In His previous single “The Hustle – Freestyle” stirred up more positive reactions for its incorporation of both English and Bengali, delivering them with an alert flow on a gritty, fast paced beat.
With all the strides he has made so far, this year is sure to catapult Sliime into the mainstream. A standout artist coming out of Sheffield is not uncommon, but there is something different about this one. A pioneer who has the chance to change the game going forward, stay tuned for more from Sliime in 2023 and beyond.
