When he’s not gallivanting around on HBO’s Game of Thrones or brooding in the BBC’s Broadchurch, Jacob Anderson is creating fun time soulful beats under his Raleigh Ritchie stage name.
New single ‘The Greatest’ is officially released on April 13 via Columbia Records, but has been receiving a lot of love online and on UK airwaves over the last few weeks. With its caramel timbre, his voice is made for soulful RnB and has caught the attentions of heavyweight rappers like Kendrick Lamar and Angel Haze. A full length debut album is set for a September release.
‘The Greatest’ is refreshingly uplifting, a real feel good tune that revels in the fact that ‘last night was sordid but we conquered the boredom’. The album art is clearly inspired by classic superhero and villain comic books, with a retro Marvel-esque font. The song opens with violins that sound exactly like the soundtrack to the starting credits for an old school episode of Batman or Superman. Listen to it, and you’ll see what I’m getting at.
Essentially it seems that this is a track about partying. The collective upbeat unity of partying. There’s hints of the hedonism and feel good negligence of the likes of Wiz Khalifa, but Raleigh Ritchie is here for more than just a good time – his is a thoughtful sound with lyrics that carry added meaning and reference more than just a celebration of the night before. He comments on the boredoms and antipathies of youth but warns with a surprising maturity for a 24 year old that we will be paying for this disregard in years to come.
There is also a recent Star.One remix of ‘The Greatest’ which features Tempa T, Stormzy and Ghetts and is advised only for those who enjoy very intense UK grime.
Words by Katie Rowley
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