Despite being a Streatham Hill native through and through, Raf Saperra does not shy away from his concrete, unshakable Punjabi heritage
Raf-Saperra, via Mass Appeal
As far as cities that define the true essence of “cultural melting pots,” it’s hard to ignore the diversity and versatility that South London has to offer. Despite being a Streatham Hill native through and through, Raf-Saperra does not shy away from his concrete, unshakable Punjabi heritage. Having gained cult status among South Asian communities for his debut mixtape Ruff Around the Edges, Saperra is back with a five-track EP titled 5 Deadly Venomz that brings notable star power with Conway the Machine, Dave East, and Big Body Bes.
To say that Raf-Saperra bends and blends genres is an understatement. His tryst with UK garage and East Coast hip hop is just as crucial to his own personality as crafting stories centered around qawwalis and Eastern Punjabi folk music. Saperra acts as an analog film editor, snipping together identities that mold together to create his unique artistry. Having begun his artistic career as a music video director— notably shooting the video for the late legend Sidhu Moosewala’s Celebrity Killer—Saperra continues to have a firm grip over his own visual identity.
The artist wisely utilizes his newest EP, 5 Deadly Venomz, to further highlight his own musical maturity. By bringing the New York legend and Griselda Records member Conway The Machine for his first-ever South Asian collaboration, Raf-Saperra immediately kicks off 5 Deadly Venomz with a love letter to East Coast hip hop. The opening track, “Rolling Thunder,” begins with a weather report news broadcast sample – warning listeners of oncoming tornadoes and heeding thematic power and havoc for what the rest of the EP provides.
The project doesn’t just cater to East Coast, New York audiences by delivering raw—marked by Conway’s distinctive slurred staccato—but also features Saperra’s unmistakable operatic, velvet vocals paired with producer Taj Aulakh’s snare-heavy beat. The track exudes a strong sense of style and moodiness while keeping a distinctively contemporary sound.
The EP at large, with the inclusion of heavy hitting icons like Dave East and Big Body Bes, does not at any point steer away from what Saperra truly excels at—showcasing how each part of his identity has made him who he is. As the singer rightly elucidates, “I may flirt with tradition and nostalgia, but Raf-Saperra is unapologetically contemporary.”
Raf-Saperra’s 5 Deadly Venomz is released globally today, March 8th, 2024, by Mass Appeal India.
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