Having made one of the biggest breakthroughs in recent memory with mixtape Homeless N*gga Pop Music, eclectic artist Jim Legxacy has announced the run-up to his next full-length release with new single “aggressive”. The track’s title refers to the “defensive” and “possessive” nature of an unspecified close relationship (and arrives with a slight hint of irony, given that Jim is one of the most heartfelt and vulnerable artists on the rap scene today).

Mirroring the interpolation of the hook from Chip’s old-school classic “Oopsy Daisy”, the song’s video is shot entirely on a vintage Blackberry phone, fitting seamlessly alongside archive cuts of Dizzee Rascal and Giggs. The Blackberry aesthetic is reported to become a recurring theme throughout the upcoming project, also referenced in its title Black British Music (2024) – abbreviated to BBM – set to drop next year.

This nostalgia for the late 00s/early 10s era of British culture has become a central appeal of Jim’s music, casting vocal samples from grime and drill greats over ethereal and melodic production, soaked in the same sort of bittersweet emotion as a Facebook memory notification. As British music as a whole begins to articulate a future beyond these genres, Jim Legxacy is a welcome presence on the scene, imagining a distant yet intimate sonic future in which influences from grime, drill, afrobeat and pop all intertwine. 

In the wake of the success of breakout album Homeless Ni*gga Pop Music, Jim Legxacy took an extended hiatus from music following news that his sister had suddenly and tragically passed away. This experience formed the inspiration behind single “nothings changed (!)”, in which Jim emotionally sings of calling his sister’s phone “just to hear [her] voicemail play”. It also inspired an accompanying live show at The Albany in Deptford earlier this year, where Black British Music (2024) was first announced. It was a touching moment, marking not only Jim Legxacy’s debut live performance, but also his comeback following a period of recuperation, with his mother sitting in the front row seat of the show. 

Watch the video for “Aggressive” above