UNDERRATED & UNDER THE RADAR:

WRETCH 32 VERSES

Wretch 32 has had a pretty sensational year to say the least. The North-London MC delivered a profound exploration of heritage and identity on Home? While continuing to level up his fierce wordplay and rap excellence with Avelino on the deluxe version of Young Fire, Old Flame. Here are a couple of his best verses.

‘GMO’ Wretch 32, Avelino, ft. Youngs Teflon Young Fire Old Flame (2015)

Young Fire Old Flame (2015) aged gracefully, now receiving the deluxe version that continues Wretch’s and Avelino’s legacies as two of the most lyrically skilled rappers. ‘GMO’, featuring Youngs Teflon, was a perfect match, and the track is as emotionally charged as it is a visual narrative. Teflon offers simultaneous self-reflection and social commentary when he raps, ‘and mummy smiled when she seen me on the TV now, but I’m just an IC3, wow.’ The initial celebration collapses as the institutional code strips away any context, story or achievement – it’s a reminder of the systemic racism still prevalent in society. Meanwhile, Wretch addresses his daughter in a poignant, reflective account of managing parenthood and the pressures of his career. Avelino’s introspective verse is deeply vulnerable as he explores his own lows and the burden of family disputes. The three unite with impeccable wordplay and complex subject matter.

‘Upon Reflection’ Wretch 32 Upon Reflection (2019)

The title track embodies everything the album is – it’s a masterful introspection and deeply vulnerable, almost serving as a therapy session. Wretch looks inward as he rectifies his own mistakes. In particular, the hardships that come with family disputes and friendships growing apart. It’s a track that speaks deeply to the average person and artists alike. Wretch recounts his tensions with Chip in 2015 and his regrets about not settling things earlier. The track is a critical examination of himself; he is extremely self-aware, and his reflective lyricism is handled with utmost care and precision – a skill that has sharpened with time and remains Wretch's most powerful asset. Dave champions a similar sense of self-scrutiny and self-observation on The Boy Who Played the Harp (2025).

‘Closer to Me’ Wretch 32 Upon Reflection (2019)

‘Closer to Me’ is a heartfelt love letter that transports listeners to the Caribbean through the reggae-inspired chorus. The soulful, reggae melodies add depth, creating an uplifting sense of warmth. The track dissects romantic relationships, moving from intimacy to jealousy, to frustration, to having pure fun and laughter. ‘Closer to Me’ embeds the fundamental message of rebuilding connections.

Personal Note: ‘Closer to Me’ is a track that I’ve always returned to; it holds a timeless weight with its emotional resonance.

‘WINDRUSH‘ Wretch 32, ft. Cashh HOME?

‘Windrush’ with Cashh on Home? is an assertive track that exposes the hypocrisies and insensitivity of cultural appropriation and taking from black cultural expression without acknowledging the hardships that came with it. Particularly when Cashh raps, ‘you envy me for my moves, you don’t envy me for my shoes.’ Wretch switches between his Jamaican and British accents, suggesting the duality between educating others about the Windrush generation and personally embodying their lived experiences. The track explores their personal experiences, their family stories and the Black British experience since the arrival of the Empire Windrush in 1948. It’s grounded in social criticism while highlighting resistance and cultural pride.