New wave frontrunner SSGKobe continues to earn his spot at the front of the pack on his latest single “Wave.”
With the release of this track, Kobe appears to be setting the tone for his long-awaited debut album U4EYA — teasing what fans hope is a release date for the highly-anticipated project in a cryptic Instagram post: “I just been working. 11/18 save the date.”
At just 18-years-old, SSGKobe (affectionaly referred to as Ko) has an impressive range that stretches from mellow melodies to high-energy rage to calm, confident rap flows — attacking all of the most recognizable sounds of the underground with his own distinct approach.
On “Wave,” Ko continues to build out his sonic world and prove the versatility of his unique sound, accurately summing up his current position in the new wave landscape with his “I’m a young n***a with the wave” refrain. Instead of his typically more abstract production-style, he opts for a bouncy, borderline trap beat (prod by ZayTekken and Two), commanding a strong presence with the contrast between his percussive rap flow, gentle melodic flourishes and signature high-pitched ad libs.
In the lead-up to his official debut, Kobe has been building anticipation with a steady stream of releases. From his teaser EPs RELAPSED and U4 0.5, to big collabs like “Guess What” with Sonny Digital and “Escape Your Love” with Trippie Redd, his most recent singles in “Luv U Back” and “EYELIDS” all allude to U4EYA’s apparent release on Nov. 11.
After a breakout year with some of the biggest underground hits of 2021 — stemming from “thrax,” “Calabasas” and the Lyical Lemonade-assisted “MIA” — all eyes have been on SSGKobe. While the bar is high, the young star appears well poised to stamp his place among mainstream up-and-comers.
Listen to SSGKobe’s “Wave” below
