GOING on 30

South London rap talent Cristale has dropped her debut EP ‘What It’s Like To Be Young’, and it doesn’t disappoint. Hard hitting, hard spitting energy that you would expect from this South London force who is playing no games!

A seven-track release, ‘What It’s Like To Be Young’ is Cristale’s largest body of work to date, an exciting sonic snapshot of one of the most hotly-tipped artists in the UK right now. The record kicks off with 2021 single ‘Morgan’, which sees Cristale offload fierce, rapid-fire bars detailing life on the roads. The track was previously crowned ‘Tune of the Week’ by BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter Nadia Jae and received further support from Snoochie Shy (1Xtra), Robert Bruce (Capital Xtra) and Ellie Prohan (Kiss).

Next up is January single ‘Militant’, pairing a vibrant, panpipe-led production with her punchy vocal delivery, followed by the suitably-titled ‘Damage’ and uncompromising ‘Braids’. ‘Hold N Squeeze’ carries a similarly menacing energy, while new single ‘13 Going On 30’ sees Cristale ruminate on growing up in the ends and what has to be done to survive.

Closing things out, November single ‘Merryland’ is a powerful tour-de-force that’s steeped in reflection. Making it onto BBC Radio 1Xtra’s B-List, the track ensures that the EP finishes with Cristale’s signature sound.

A poet, storyteller and artist, Brixtonborn Cristale first began rapping back in primary school, challenging her peers to rap battles and later winning a slam poetry competition. Drawing inspiration from grime artists like Chip, Stormzy and Wretch 32, as well as funky house acts like T2 and Sweet Female Attitude, she burst onto the scene last year, racking up hundreds of thousands of streams on tracks like ‘Next Up’, ‘Scores’ and ‘Whites’. More recently she performed at The Great Escape in Brighton and dropped ‘Bong Bing’ with Laa Lee, a viral single that has racked up close to 4 million Spotify streams.

Wordplay caught up with Cristale recently for a quick Q&A, delving into her beginnings as an artist, not just musically but across many creative areas. The strengths and talents of Cristale are to be admired and we’re looking forward to more big things this year.

Let’s take it back to the beginning. I know you started out doing poetry in school but what sparked your love for music?

It was always there you know? I grew up in a musical household and not just singing and rapping. It’s been embedded in me. At the time I didn’t know how to channel what I was going through; I was doing my A level and about to leave secondary school. Then one day I put my poetry to music and it was the outlet I needed. From there it just became more and more serious.

You were a keen footballer when you were younger and were on Crystal Palace’s scouts’ radar at one stage. Was there a point where you had to make a decision between picking music or the football route?

I needed to get back into football but it wasn’t a choice between music and football. The time frame was different. I stopped playing football in sixth form and then after that I started rapping on Instagram for fun. It was never like I was going to be a rapper one day at that point. The decision to make music seriously was only 2 years ago.