Words by Shayni Solanki
JD Cliffe is changing the game, mixing classic genres with more contemporary sounds alongside some pretty experimental beats.
A North London-based rapper, JD Cliffe initially took a lot of inspiration from local figures like Skepta, Kano, and Bashy. He’s had a pretty solid run since dropping his debut single on SoundCloud in 2016, sharing the stage with the likes of Kojo Funds and Section Boyz.
He’s managed to stay consistent too, releasing songs and music videos on a regular basis since that first SoundCloud drop. Neon Jungle, his first EP, garnered a lot of positive reviews alongside its lead single, ‘Five’, which happened to get picked up by DJ Target and chosen as BBC 1Xtra’s ‘Unsigned Track of the Week’.
JD Cliffe can’t really be put into a box with a wider portfolio comprised of a huge mix of genres. Whether it’s grime or rock, his 15.3k monthly listeners on Spotify seem committed to supporting any and all of his art. Named as one of Complex’s top emcees to watch, no one can deny that JD Cliffe is worth your attention.
A lot can be said when talking about Black rock music history and big names like Jimi Hendrix and Slash, but what can we say about this generation’s take on rock? ‘The Future’, JD Cliffe’s new rock-tinged single, has already garnered 55 thousand streams. Both young and fresh, the track’s success is thanks to its effortless mix of grime and rock in a way never done before, and we honestly can’t wait to hear more.