LAYYAH is a multifaceted rapper, singer and songwriter whose music threads the emotion of R&B through the grit of UK rap, RnDrill cadence, and UK afroswing bounce. Born and raised in South London to a Sierra Leonean mother and South African father, she began her artistic journey at the Centre for Young Musicians (CYM) and East London Arts and Music (ELAM), starting out as a vocalist before adding razor-sharp bars to her repertoire in her mid-teens. The result is a fluid sound that is uniquely hers – it is poetic, melodic, and unflinchingly honest, guided by touchstones like Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott, Tupac and Motown greats. In December 2024 she made history as the first-ever female winner of BBC’s The Rap Game UK. Since then, she has translated that momentum into a run of bold empowered singles and freestyles that balance vulnerability and fire, pulling in millions of streams, while widening a fanbase that spans underground tastemakers and mainstream audiences.
Following the success of her BBC Introducing Track of the Week ‘Money Moves’ and summer single ‘Passenger Side’ featuring grime trailblazer Scorcher, which have seen her land critical acclaim and rave reviews from the likes of Clash Magazine, Notion, and KISS Xtra, fast-rising South London rap artist, vocalist, and songwriter LAYYAH returns with ‘FEEL LIKE’, a silky slick R&B and hip-hop statement laced with dancehall vibes and UK afroswing bounce. Birthed in the studio from a freestyle and the earworm refrain, “how you feel like, tell me how you feel like”, before being fleshed out with platinum-selling producer JB Made It (Drake, Central Cee, Headie One), ‘Feel Like’ is a flirtatious and assured offering from Layyah, the first-ever female winner of BBC’s The Rap Game UK. Built for instant recall with its close conversational vocals, a glorious bassline, and gleaming toplines, the track slides from late-night radio into the dancefloor without breaking a stride.
Layyah’s pen is as sharp as ever on ‘Feel Like’, but her presence is unguarded at the same time, as she centres feminine energy and chemistry with a balance of strength and softness. The track is romantic, playful, and intimacy in motion, with Layyah’s velvet R&B textures and lingering hook merging beautifully with percussive diaspora-rooted flourishes, and an infectious groove, urging you to take your time, rewind, and savour the moment. Speaking about the making of ‘Feel Like’, Layyah shares how “the song flows naturally, blending flirty energy with confidence and connection. ‘Feel Like’ balances intimacy with movement, strength with softness, and romance with play. It mirrors the theme of taking your time and cherishing the moment. It’s a track that invites you to vibe on the dancefloor or lose yourself in headphones, always reminding you to move with confidence and enjoy the moment”.
The single is the latest crown jewel in a breakout 12 months that saw Layyah make history last December as the first-ever female winner of BBC Three’s The Rap Game UK, drawing “generational talent” co-signs from BBC 1Xtra’s Kenny Allstar, award-winning producer Fumez The Engineer and music industry leader Riki Bleu. Influenced by Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott, Motown greats and the late great Tupac Shakur, Layyah has forged a signature sound that braids R&B feeling with UK rap bite, RnDrill cadence and afroswing bounce, which is connecting on stage and online, with millions of global streams. With ‘Feel Like’ serving as a compelling marker for what comes next, Layyah doubles down on what’s making her one of the UK’s essential new voices – razor-sharp lyricism, honeyed vocals, emotionally candid, South London grit, and utterly ready for the main stage.
On stage, Layyah’s presence is magnetic, with performances at Amazon Music +44’s Fifth Anniversary, Krept & Konan’s ‘Young Kingz II’ concert, the ELAM 10-Year Anniversary, BBC 1Xtra’s Xmas Party, and Ben & Jerry’s Sundaes In The Park Festival, showcasing an artist owning the stage, igniting crowds across the country, and commanding attention. Strong support from BBC, Notion, Clash Magazine, KISS Fresh, Spotify and Apple Music continue to build her footprint and highlight her rising star. Layyah writes with purpose, championing sisterhood, self-worth, and perseverance, crafting records that cut through the noise and speak to a generation that refuses to be overlooked. With a clear creative vision, a growing catalogue, and a reputation for delivering under pressure, Layyah stands as one of the UK’s most vital new voices – authentic, razor-sharp, poetic, unflinchingly honest, unstoppable, and entirely on her own terms.
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