Two rising experimental voices—mau from nowhere and hihi—have come together for their first-ever collaborative album Pressure, a genre-bending project that fuses alternative hip-hop, R&B, electronic textures, and Afro-soul into one vivid sonic journey.
Though from opposite sides of the world, the pair found themselves in London, navigating the challenges of new environments and creative uncertainty. Out of that experience came Pressure—an 11-track record that pushes against boundaries while exploring themes of dislocation, resilience, and self-discovery.
“A huge part of this project was playing telephone with a lot of the rap music we grew up on,” the duo explained. “Honouring a sound that’s been so formative for both of us as artists while still infusing our own unique styles into this story of diving into a new space, drowning, and doing our best to continue treading water.”
From the Madlib-inspired opener “here we are again” to the soulful invitation of “let it pass,” the album thrives on contrast. “what’s all this then” flips melancholic absurdity into deconstructed breakbeats, “portals” finds joy in escapism, and “a_m_h” pulls together Nairobi’s finest for an electrifying posse cut. Elsewhere, “Green hill zone” offers one of the album’s most vulnerable moments as mau contemplates mortality and love, before closing tracks “miss you” and “silly” land on reflection and renewal.
mau from nowhere has been steadily carving out space in the global alternative scene, blending influences from Nairobi, the UK, and the Netherlands into a unique sound that’s earned praise from critics and listeners alike. Named Apple Music’s East African Up Next artist in 2023, he’s become one of the most exciting new voices bridging African and global sounds.
hihi, meanwhile, approaches production like collage art—layering shoegaze guitars, Memphis trap bass, and glitchy, hyper-detailed synths into chaotic but emotionally precise soundscapes. Their music often explores themes of fractured identity and transformation, bringing both intensity and nuance.
Together, the two artists have delivered an album that challenges and rewards in equal measure. Pressure isn’t just experimental—it’s proof that the future of hip-hop lies in fearless collaboration and cross-cultural dialogue.
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