Look up for this on-point collaboration ‘No Sidekicks’ between Che Lingo and Mick Jenkins, who in their own ways represent the rawness of UK hip-hop and the OG style of American hip-hop, respectively. Reaching across the Atlantic, the joined forces of Lingo and Jenkins have crafted a powerful single that moves from soulful vocals and gospel synth keys, to trap-heavy flow à la Jenkins, to dark bass-laden beats with Lingo’s London accent. It’s lyrically dense and puts forward all the complexities and contradictions of being a man these days. As Che Lingo himself says, “No Sidekicks is about admitting that as men we aren’t always the hero’s and women are not accessories. They don’t always need saving and them wanting to be with us is a choice to be respected as a collaboration of lives. There are no Sidekicks in a healthy relationship and more time, it’s the men that need saving. In more ways than one.” This song is a challenge to old-school masculinity from two rappers who continually question the world we live in through their music, asking could there be a better way? Of course, there could be, we just need to open up our ears and listen. - Hannah Thacker