Ever since his collaboration with Gotts Street Park, we’ve had one eye on South Londoner Benny Mails and his smooth-as-butter flow. And as if he was aware of our eagle eye, Mails as just dropped his debut mixtape Aware, whose title track features rising star Marika Hackman. The track is a perfect fusion of all the styles which Mails grew up around: grime, funk, jazz and soul. The video too harks back to Mails’ childhood, featuring some of the UK’s hottest breakdancing and contemporary dance talent. Check out the full EP here, which features collaborations with Gotts Street Park, Krash, Ragz Orignale and Art Daley. ‘This is the sound of a heartbroken rapper’ sings Mails towards the end of ‘Aware’, channeling the deeply personal themes which run through the mixtape: relationships, family breakdown, love, loss and everything in between. This is the sound of UK’s Hip Hop future – keep one eye on this hot talent. -HM