DARKOO’s 2020 MOBO Song of the Year-nominated “Gangsta” displayed a fluidity the Nigerian British artist has since expanded upon. Showcasing her duality through both her persona and musical styles, the Yaba-born singer and rapper eschewed categorization on her aptly titled debut EP 2 in 1. Operating at the intersection of hard-hitting bars and infectious melodies, DARKOO’s iteration of Afroswing sees her blend the magnetism of drill with R&B melodies and Afropop rhythms. This fusion of worlds is apparent on the Black Sherif-assisted single “Always” and groovy “Cinderella” alongside French outfit 4Keus, while a stellar contribution to Tion Wayne and Russ Millions’ posse cut “Body (Remix)” reinforces DARKOO’s versatility. Whether spitting bars or crafting earworms, this iconoclastic twentysomething has an aura, look, and sound that blurs expectations and pushes boundaries.