Rak-Su

Rak-Su claimed victory in the 2017 season of the U.K. talent series The X Factor as a pop-R&B quartet. On the program they delivered more original material than any prior contestant, winning over viewers through polished stagecraft and an upbeat, optimistic outlook while becoming the first boy band ever to take the crown.

The four members first came together in Watford, the London commuter town, as school friends Ashley Fongho on rap and principal songwriting, Jamaal Shurland handling lead vocals, Myles Stephenson covering rap and production, and Mustafa Rahimtulla responsible for dance, DJ duties, and beatboxing. Already seasoned performers with a self-released EP, 2016’s Flights ’n’ Feels, to their credit, they arrived at the audition stage as a tightly coordinated unit. Their distinctive name stems from the expression “tracks vs. suits,” capturing the clash between carefree youth spent creating music and the demands of adult life. After leaving school the quartet took on an assortment of day jobs that included physiotherapist and dance teacher. Exhibiting clear commercial foresight, they registered their own limited company several months before entering The X Factor so they could manage any future earnings. Although they had once ruled out appearing on the show, they reversed course upon realizing it offered valuable exposure even without a win. In practice they dominated from the start, finishing first in nearly every round and earning praise from mentor Simon Cowell, who drew favorable comparisons with One Direction. Throughout the series they performed many self-written songs that displayed a lively, Latin-tinged blend of pop, rap, and R&B.

After the triumph, Rak-Su joined Cowell’s Syco label as anticipated. Their debut single, the self-penned “Dimelo” featuring Wyclef Jean and Naughty Boy and drawn from the group’s self-titled EP, reached number two on the U.K. singles chart. The Rome EP arrived at the beginning of 2019, followed by the single “Rotate (Clockwise).”