The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2022 - Issue 32

bitemusicceleb privacy.” Afrobeats artist Midas the Jagaban dons branded balaclavas to maintain her anonymity and pointed out her masks are “vehicles for embodying different characters”. She prefers the public to pay attention to her music rather than her looks. Following this anonymity trend, rapper M Huncho also keeps his identity a closely guarded secret, firstly wearing a balaclava and then a custom mask. The mystical artist got eyes peeled on him after releasing the smooth, melodic trap- rap 48 Hours EP in 2018. Fans and critics appreciated the refreshingly inventive sound he calls ‘trap wave’, speaking of trials, tribulations and his desire to escape street politics. He followed this up with Utopia in 2019 and Huncholini the 1st in 2020. According to the rapper, “Trap wave is a mixture of melodic rap and gritting stories from a trap combining a wave which is the melodies within the trap aspect of the genre trap music.” When asked by Readers Digest in 2020 if he consid- ered himself the originator of the genre, he replied, “Yes, I do because I feel like no one else sounds like me, and although they might try, they never will. I don't mean that arrogantly or ignorantly or to put people down because I must inspire the youth.” He stated quality is the essential ingredient in making music. “I’m a musical person; I like good music,” he revealed. “I’ve been brought up listening to good music, so, you know, some tracks obviously will see the light of day. I might put one on my YouTube channel as audio or something like that to treat the fans. I wouldn't be here without them, so I would release something for their sake, so they have something to listen to, if they complain.” At the same time, M Huncho is modest and considerate of people’s points of view. “I don’t believe in being in people’s faces too much and being out there in front of everyone be- cause sometimes people get sick of you,” he admitted. “It’s like having the same meal every day, so I have my periods where I disappear, and I come back with a bang, and that’s what it’s all about.” This decision happened in 2020 when the artist decided to take a break to work on his next project. After a two-year hiatus, he returned with his debut album Chasing Euphoria which digs more profoundly into his com- plex psyche and don a newly designed mask. The artist speaks about loss, success, love and family matters on the album while demonstrating his co-production skills. He collaborates with UK rap and grime giants like Wretch 32, Ghetts on 'Viv- id', and Giggs on 'Lean'. You may notice his straight-talking rhymes deviate from previous harmonised sounds. Speaking to Hyperbeast , the artist explained the concept of the album. “I’m trying to give people a story of how I feel, what I have been feeling and what I feel euphoric about,” he revealed. “You know, sometimes it's money, sometimes women; I talk about the roads. I want to show people what