EXCLUSIVE:
Derby’s JimiDaKilla Stakes His Claim As UK Rap’s Next Star With “Cognac Arcade / This Ones For”

Today, Derby rapper JimiDaKilla made a bid for the title of UK rap firebrand (in addition to his self-imposed title of British Chav Rapper) with his new EP, Cognarc Arcade. Created in close collaboration with producer and engineer Ted Loco, with a bonus appearance from Skinny Malone, the new EP boasts six rowdy rap cuts flecked with moments of jazz, grime, boom-bap and trap.

Before you dig deep into that, the East Midlander has also dropped off some visuals for two of the project’s key highlights “Cognac Arcade” and “This Ones For”. Blending West Coast influences with his swaggering Derby flow, the “Cognac Arcade” half of the video follows Jimi as he goes for a light jog around the block while the jazzy production sets pace. Then, out of nowhere, his world is turned upside down and the funk licks and punchy drums of “This Ones For” take over, transporting Jimi and the viewer to a late night drive with his boys.

Speaking with TRENCH via email, Jimi explained: “The end goal for myself and Ted was to push the boundaries sonically from what we had previously been working. Myself and fellow Local Geezers collective member, Rufus Wilson then developed the concept of the video to showcase the many sides of my personality.”

Surreal and playful in equal measure, the real strength of Wilson’s dual visuals isn’t just that they accentuate the Derby rhymer’s bone dry humour and flair for the unexpected, it’s also in the reflection of the two contrasting sides of the rapper’s personality.

Words: James Keith


Posted on February 21, 2020