Twenty minutes is enough for Nippa to sing, rap, and even find room to dance. “Homegrown,” his first EP with Warner Records, brings together nine songs that show what he can do using R&B as a starting point.
The record is about gratitude and perseverance, held together by the British artist’s voice. He can sustain a gentle melody before shifting into short phrases that lean closer to rap.
On “Homegrown,” alongside Blxst, those changes are supported by a pronounced bass line. The song is about family and those who have been with him from the beginning, but the way he sings it also helps tell the story, conveying the pride of remembering everything it took to get here.
“Just Vibe” gives his voice a different setting. The piano and looser percussion allow the song to move at a slightly calmer pace. “T&C’s” takes a different direction, with a hazier sound and an atmosphere that leans toward chillout. These are two examples of how the EP changes its sound.
“Cherries Freestyle” concentrates his more rap-oriented side into just over a minute. Nippa changes his phrasing and uses the track’s brevity to get straight to what he wants to say. Then “Kacey,” with Jordan Ward, offers one of the record’s most accessible melodies. The rhythm has a funk feel, and the two voices fit together easily on a song about someone who still matters to him, even as he spends more and more time away from home.
On “Bittersweet,” KAYTRANADA and Rance take the EP toward the dance floor. The piano and beat keep things moving while Nippa wonders whether he is doing too much or whether what he feels is just the impulse of the moment.
The closing track, “I’m Scared To Be Left Alone,” slows things down and leaves more room for emotion. Guitars accompany a song that gives him room to express something difficult, following an EP that has moved quickly through different sounds and ways of singing.
“Homegrown” offers a strong introduction to Nippa at this stage. It features well-known collaborators, including Blxst, Jordan Ward, and KAYTRANADA, but also songs on which he can hold the listener’s interest on his own. His voice and the way he uses it give continuity to a short record that manages to show several possibilities for whatever comes next.
Listen to “Homegrown” and connect with Nippa on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
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