When listening to a nineteen97 track, you should expect carefully bound together textures that set precedent for a new standard amongst the UK rap stratosphere. Everything has been delicately placed together for its own purpose, reflecting chameleon-like reflexes suitable for anything in between a Saturday night cookout or a long drive through the horizons. The aesthetics are evenly spread, steady with a hint of carnage with long-term friend and close collaborator Off Key helping to manipulate the sonic identity. So what’s the story?

In the summer of 2020, nineteen97, (real name Devsz) a multifaceted creative from Coventry was putting the final pieces of the plan together readying himself to launch a career in music. Fast forward to 30th October 2020, ‘I Got’ alongside Jesse James Solomon and Mayhem NODB kickstarted the assignment. Marking his first release in style, the blissfully raw soundtrack welcomed us in to his very own dimension. The release instantly cooked up a stir in the city he now calls home, Birmingham, as well as making waves across the surrounding pockets of the UK. “Being in Birmingham exposed me to many different types of MCs and sounds that I may not have been familiar with until much later in life. Hearing MCs like Mayhem + Trilla as a kid showed me there’s more to this ting than the sounds we hear on the TV and Radio. A lot more personality and feeling.”

For someone who has nothing but creative energy circulating through his body, it was always going to circle back to music with Devsz. Excelling in avenues of graphic design, founding his own brand ‘alldayarchive’ and promoting events, the time had come to expand. Along with support from Birmingham-based music group BE83, nineteen97 used a seamless approach to creativity in order to proceed with the vision. Finishing 2020 on a high; the winning formula was in the melting pot which saw an exciting link-up with Birmingham cult heroes Blue Room Mafia for ‘Again’. Considering the sound is so distinct he told me “consuming things that aren’t remotely close to what I do keeps my mind on go mode. In a pandemic where I can’t really travel like that – it helped me stay inspired and motivated to push the mark you feel me? Shoutout ‘Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World’ and K-Trap’s ‘Free C Roy’. Top Tier Content.”

Entering the middle of his introductory year, the start of 2021 organically felt like the right time for nineteen97 to put together a debut EP. After a brief hiatus spent fine-tuning the sonics and masterplan, shortly after he announced ‘CHROME’ EP, equipped with a very fitting, self-designed artwork. The 5-track project explores his sonic vision piecing together vocal contributions from Grime linchpin Manga Saint Hilare and a skit from in-demand Birmingham rapper Millionz. Stripping back further layers to his persona we got a taste of his heritage with further samples and skits to represent his Caribbean background. This was definitely a turning point, legitimising himself as an emerging figure in the burgeoning scene, proven with co-signs from the likes of BBC 1Xtra’s Sir Spyro referencing it as “So mad but so calm at the same time.” Throughout the release campaign, nineteen97 hosted and curated radio show ‘Chrome FM’ across the renowned community stations Reprezent, Balamii and Function - adding more depth to the growing enigma.

What interested me is the tactfulness about his approach to shortlisting collaborators and sonically piecing his music together. He said “It’s simple, am I fan? and do I have ideas for how you can add serious value to this production with also complimenting the other vocalists? (not as simple when I say it out loud but we move).” A successful release helped cultivate a fanbase sitting across grime and UK rap enthusiasts throughout the UK and further. Tailing off the back of the project, he explored his collaborative options this time bringing together Grime legend Footsie and one of the leaders of the underground kwes e for ‘Unapologetic’.

The re-opening of music venues welcomed live opportunities for nineteen97, who craved his first taste of testing his genre-shrugging music in a live experience. Shows included Bristol and London two of his highest streamed cities other than Birmingham. Earlier this month, nineteen97 headlined the first CHROME FM event in Birmingham’s Dead Wax showcasing some of the finest artists and DJ’s in the city, sponsored by fashion label Edjer. “I made CHROME for people to go nuts too and they got the assignment, love to the people dem.” Raising the roof for perhaps the last time of the year, it was an event that was long overdue; inviting friends, supporters and everything in between who all share the mutual belief of the vision.

As he continues to creatively flourish, his mission moving forward into his second year stands strong “making more songs, telling more stories, and making more shit.” With a solid foundation set and a name recognised as a profound piece of the UK scene’s puzzle, we can expect a follow-up project in the near future. His priority for the next rollout is “hopefully with a bigger audience, we have another project at least close to completion”. For someone who takes pride in his craftsmanship, having a hand in everything from artwork, visual representation, his own events, merch you name it - there is a place for talent like nineteen97 in the scene where he belongs.

The Evolution of nineteen97: 12 Months Later