- Words James Hughes
With this deluxe edition of his sophomore album, rapper and songwriter Yonny is putting himself and his home firmly on everyone's radar.
Last year, Seattle-based rapper Yonny put his hometown on the music map with his critically acclaimed sophomore album, Everywhere, But Always. Now, he is exploding back onto the scene with the deluxe edition of the project which includes three new tracks to be obsessed by.
Born & raised in Seattle, Yonny is driven most of all by his ambition to bring the musical talent of his home to everyone’s attention. The rapper is known for a raw sound with storytelling at its heart, bringing together the influence of his Ethiopian background, as well as the music he loves such as Nirvana and Dr. Dre. Yonny broke out with last year’s ‘City In Motion’, an anthem for his beloved city, which has nearly three million streams behind it, and led to a collaboration with Seattle Sounders FC and Hometown in celebration of this year’s FIFA Club World Cup in the city.
On Everywhere, But Always (Deluxe), Yonny has teamed up with Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Ambré on a reimagining of the fan favourite track ‘Blue Door’. The song playfully weaves together the confident flow of Yonny with the smooth vocalising of Ambré to breathe new life into what is already a banger. There is also a collaboration with Sango, a fellow Seattleite who has produced for greats like Drake and Frank Ocean, in the jazzy song ‘Jumbo Jet’ which is already making waves. With ‘I Am’, the rapper proclaims his self-acceptance and resilience with his tender penmanship and a mellow, acoustic sound.
Ultimately, this new edition of the album cements the rapper’s powerful storytelling ability, an ability giving Seattle the long overdue credit it deserves.