UK rapper Rakan talks early music, his debut single, and what we can expect from him
Page updated: 31 July 2026
When a new rapper takes the mic to burn flames of metaphor and simile-laden fury, you stop everything and pay attention. Your head shakes uncontrollably; a rhythm takes over, and your pulse mimics everything else. Part of this experience stems from accidental discovery, with the music taking a supporting role to the demeanour of a lyricist who reflects their life experience. We stumbled upon one just like it.
Rakan is an up-and-coming London-based rapper whose style aligns well with the stories and bars he delivers. Shunning trite, overused gimmicks running rampant throughout hip-hop, he leans into a gallant openness, relating travails and sentiments many would fear to drop on their debut release. His first single, “Trials“, is out now, filled with a contagious beat switch and pungent rhymes that inspire a centrifuge of thoughts. The streaming world is filled with music clocking in at a mere one to one-and-a-half minutes; his first appearance, on the other hand, is five minutes long, so it’s safe to say he’s started as he means to go on.
Your new single, “Trials”, is out today. What’s it about?
Rakan: “Trials” is about a journey to enlightenment and the realisation that there are no painless lessons.
Who produced it, and how long has it been in the works?
Rakan: Maxim Lavrov and Luis Knowles, and it has been in the works for 2-3 months.
How would you describe your creative style?
Rakan: Authentic and free from boundaries put in place by a society that doesn’t value creativity.
What inspired you to start rapping? Can you remember the moment and the first verse you wrote?
Rakan: What inspires me the most is when an artist pushes past boundaries and shapes their own style, which influences the music scene in their own ways. For example, Earl Sweatshirt, Young Thug, Tyler, the Creator, Sonnyjim, and Westside Gunn have these distinctive styles. Even if it fits into one genre — and though it may sound foreign to a mainstream audience — they make it anyway because you can truly do anything with your creation, and I strongly believe there is ultimate freedom and unlimited possibilities when it comes to music.
How do you view your early music compared to your work now?
Rakan: My early music was mostly focused on simple constructs directed at events within my personal life along with things I wished to achieve. It was my way of creating a journal of my life, whereas now I aim to speak on things besides myself; I tend to play the characters of others. This exercises my ability to see from other perspectives and to create a world of music that is representative of so many other listeners.
Do you plan to release an EP or album? What does a Rakan long play sound like?
Rakan: I don’t have a set plan for what’s next because I believe my music is just a reflection of life. I want to create space that allows life’s changes to impact what I do next in my career. Something can happen tomorrow that may change my whole creative process for the better.
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What activity best describes your music?
Rakan: Meditation.
Before releasing music, what was your creative outlet?
Rakan: Poetry and creative writing impacted my musical process. I used to write fictional short stories featuring characters I created; this allowed me to shape lives outside of mine.
How long will it be before we hear another track from Rakan?
Rakan: Maybe in a few months.
If readers could ask you one thing in ten years, what do you think they would ask?
Rakan: Have you accomplished the goals you hoped to 10 years ago?
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