Evan Dale // July 23, 2021 

Sliced from the greater weight of his forthcoming debut album, UK-Ghanaian producer and commanding influence on the global rise of Afrobeats from its diasporic pillar in London, Juls is releasing the first of his leading singles alongside a flurry of collaborative forces. Wicked – which comes in tow with a fiery, rum-fueled neon visual directed by the keen eye of Ray Fiasco, who has also worked with names like Kojey Radical, M. Huncho, and Aitch – folds in the flows of Knucks, Sam Wise, and Kadiata for an upbeat party anthem.

Yet another fluid composition by way of Juls’ confluence of stylistic inspirations, Wicked boasts the kind of West African rhythm and beachy cool that we’ve come to expect from his drum pad, while its beaming list of starring front-men bridges the UK-Ghanaian gap that continues to make artists like Juls emerging from the West African Cultural Renaissance such necessary figures on the global scale.

Speaking on the single’s sound, Juls said that Wicked “…is a blend of Funk Carioca, Azonto and Baile Fun but it still has a very fresh British vibe to it whilst sounding very African at the same time. Knucks, Sam Wise and Kadiata bring the heat with their clever, witty flows. I couldn't think of anyone else to jump on this riddim. It's a very fun track, and hopefully, it becomes another favourite birthday song, especially for the ladies”

A favorite song, period, for any fan of the fun-loving, sun-soaking nature of Juls’ eternal auditory warmth.

Be on the lookout for more from his album rollout.