The Raw Intimacy of “Homegrown” and Nippa’s Hood R&B
Originally published by AllHipHop Read the original
The new EP “Homegrown” by singer-songwriter Nippa carries a dose of R&B drama, the rawness of rap that insists on asserting its character, and the delicacy of pop, capable of sweetening its stories. It all comes wrapped in nine songs, many of them brief, but all of them intense.
The journey begins with “Talking To The Mirror,” a track where the guitar stands out. The performer’s smooth voice takes the listener by the hand, moving from moments of intense high notes to almost spoken passages in a reflective offering that is easy to relate to.
“Homegrown,” featuring Blxst, opens with an urban-inspired beat and represents the heart of the EP. On the track, Nippa returns to his roots to talk about the place where he grew up, built his identity, and began developing his love for music. The song brings together his story in Tottenham with that of Blxst, an artist who also finds an essential part of his creative identity in his community.
“Say It With Your Chest” begins with an intentionally distorted voice that conveys a sense of chaos and becomes another standout. “Just Vibe,” meanwhile, moves away from its predecessors with a light, smooth approach in which he invites listeners to let go of their worries and doubts and simply surrender to the music.
The collection also includes “T&C’s” and “Bittersweet,” which reinforce Nippa’s R&B character. The latter, produced by KAYTRANADA and Rance, takes his questions and insecurities onto a hypnotic dancefloor rhythm. “Cherries Freestyle,” meanwhile, adds a dose of rap that completes the picture of the sonic fusions Nippa explores.
Credit: James Ramsey
“Kacey,” featuring Jordan Ward, lands as the project’s most pop-oriented song. Nippa and Ward’s voices come together with such precise naturalness that it feels as though they had been singing together for years. The EP closes with “I’m Scared To Be Left Alone,” a dramatic, almost theatrical track that finds intimacy as a way to connect with the listener.
Originally from Tottenham in North London, Nippa defines his sound as hood R&B. Before this release, he built an audience independently through projects such as “INDUSTREETS” and “Hope She Hears This.” That journey earned him a MOBO Awards nomination and a place on Billboard’s list of R&B artists to watch.
The project marks his first EP under Warner Records, following a year of growing visibility in the U.S. that included a performance in Los Angeles during BET Awards week. Its title track also became the soundtrack for Tottenham Hotspur’s 2026/27 home and away kits, connecting the project to the North London community where Nippa was born and raised.
Throughout the collection, Nippa sings about desire, doubt, and the emotion of moving forward while repeatedly returning to what he knows. Between rhythms that invite listeners to dance and moments that call for closer attention, “Homegrown” leaves the impression of an artist embracing his roots while keeping his eyes on the sky.