Rising north London rapper IYKZ (formerly Ikes) is back with brand-new single “They Know (Wan Mo)”, a collaboration with fellow Londoner Maleek Berry.
Written and produced by IYKZ and Maleek, the single is part of the growing Afro Bashment movement and is already a hit on streaming platforms, with almost 150,000 streams on Spotify alone since being released independently only a few weeks ago. The track’s success also extends to radio, with notable support from renowned UK radio DJs Twin Band DJ Target on BBC Radio 1Xtraand Jay London on Capital XTRA.
With the single off to a strong start, IYKZ is keeping the momentum going with the release of the music video directed by Meji Alabi(Zak Abel, Maleek Berry, Sneakbo) for JM Films. Shot in an underground warehouse in Hackney, east London, the monochromatic visuals provide the perfect backdrop for the gritty, hard-hitting street anthem, which also pays homage to the two rappers’ Nigerian heritage.
Speaking on the record, IYKZ says, “‘Wan mo’ means ‘they know’ in the Nigerian Yoruba language. I’m Igbo but Maleek is Yoruba, so we blend both dialects throughout the record. It’s a patriotic street anthem. We want our voices to be heard. We linked up and did everything in Maleek’s bedroom. By the end of the session, we knew we had something special.”
With Maleek producing much of IYKZ’s early material, it’s not the first time they have collaborated or appeared in the same video together. "Working with IYKZ is always magic”, Maleek says of their partnership. “I love working with people who have a deep understanding of music, so it's always bound to be something special when we collaborate."
“They Know (Wan Mo)” is available to buy and stream now and is one of several new singlesIYKZ will be releasing over the coming months. Keep up to date with all future releases and news by following him online:
