MIST

Birmingham-based grime MC Mist emerged amid the mid-2010s grime resurgence, demonstrating that London origins were not required for credibility within U.K. rap circles. Like many peers in the genre, Mist began by releasing a string of mixtapes and freestyles that swiftly accumulated millions of online views. While his rhymes often revisited familiar themes of financial ambition and street life, they also offered candid reflections on losing both parents and the resulting shifts in his circumstances. Early on, he partnered with Birmingham producer Shadow, whose languid yet melodic instrumentals provided the backdrop for Mist’s delivery. Momentum built sharply in 2016, beginning with an appearance on the prestigious Fire in the Booth segment of Charlie Sloth’s BBC Radio 1Xtra program. Later that year came the M I S to the T EP, which included the notable tracks “Karlas Back” and “Ain’t the Same.” In 2017 Mist launched a nationwide U.K. tour that reached Koko in London and Manchester’s O2 Ritz.