USNA (pronounced OO~SH~NA) is doing things on his own terms as he prepares to take his underground hip-hop to a much broader audience with today’s release of his debut EP ‘REPRESENT’. The Irish hip-hop artist has built momentum ahead of the EP’s release by sharing inventive DIY music videos for all three of its previous singles, while his eagerness to defy conventions was again underlined by his raw and succinct 38-second track ‘RUNNING’.
The ‘REPRESENT’ EP captures an era of change in USNA’s personal life. After his mixtape ‘OOSHNA’ made waves last year (Radio 1 airplay and a Radio 1 Big Weekend performance as well a Track of the Week at BBC Introducing), USNAdecided to leave his home in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland to go all-in on his career by relocating to London. After all, if not now, when?
The excitement and insecurities of the move inform his charismatic rhymes throughout the set. But also, sometimes you have to leave somewhere to realise its importance to your story: nostalgia, family and friends are all imprints that never really leave you. And while ‘REPRESENT’ is USNA’s personal story, it’s also a relatable narrative for the countless young people who leave their quiet hometowns to follow their own ambitions.
Following the previous releases ‘REPRESENT’, ‘SOMETHING AIN’T WORKING’ and ‘RUNNING’, the EP features the new focus track ‘WHAT’S LEFT?’. Adorned by a beautiful piano motif, the instrumental brings a breezy summer melody to support his reflective lyricism. He affirms his utmost dedication to making sure he’s up next, but naturally he compares where he’s at in life compared to his old friends - and he finds that in adulthood, their lives are all heading in very different directions.
USNA says, “‘WHAT'S LEFT?' is about experiencing my own growth since moving to London to pursue music, whilst also going home and being teleported back to my years growing up.”
The ‘REPRESENT’ EP is completed by another new track in the shape of ‘YOUNG BOY’, the hardest-hitting moment in the set that breaks from its punchy beats to introduce an entirely unexpected evocative guitar solo.
USNA wrote and recorded the bulk of the ‘REPRESENT’ EP alone in his bedroom studio, his only collaborator being Adj Buffone (RAYE, Tom Grennan) on ‘YOUNG BOY’. His passion for hip-hop combined with his early classical training and a flair for revealing confessional lyricism makes this 24-year-old a distinct proposition with everything needed to rise to the next level. Tastemakers have already compared him to Tyler, The Creator, Kendrick Lamar and Baby Keem.
‘REPRESENT’ EP tracklist:
‘REPRESENT’
‘SOMETHING AIN’T WORKING’
‘RUNNING’
‘YOUNG BOY’
‘WHAT’S LEFT?’
