Avelino

Hailing from Tottenham in North London, rapper Achi Avelino has hewn a riveting path through British hip-hop with tales of working class hustle and odes to his Angolan-Congolese roots. The incandescent artist got his start uploading freestyles to social media before stirring buzz with the release of 2013's Underdog Music, where he juxtaposed jagged beats against fiery, incisive barbs. The momentum built steadily, with 2015’s collaborative Young Fire, Old Flame tape with Wretch 32 followed by the stripped-down F.Y.O. On 2017’s NO B******T, Avelino crystallised his persona as a storyteller—equal parts boastful, earnest and funny on standout tracks “Gr8ness Intro” and “U Can Stand Up / Royal”. Tours, extensive radio play and versatile hits like Afrobeat-rooted “Boasy” and trappy bedroom jam “So Fine” consecrated Avelino as a rising star, even earning co-signs from luminaries like Skepta.