With the release of his latest track “BUTTAH” Sweets showcases his raw, unbothered, and unwavering voice with a vital sense of power and position. ‘BUTTAH’ is a frenetic, drum and bass-inspired return that is written from the perspective of a young, wealthy man, whose status puts him above the law and reproach living wild city life with no consequences. It’s an urgent return and a timely addition to the burgeoning northern musical scene. Jazzy, breaky, and fast, this track kicks the front door wide open as Sweets walks through with smooth, bassy vocals. 

This release showcases the Newcastle-born, Manchester-based artist’s vital new composition that is said to be the beginning of the next chapter in Sweets’ career.

Having lived a turbulent youth in the Northern city of parties and loud mouths, Sweets’ past was characterised by the omnipresence of trouble. Now based in Manchester, he has emerged over the last two years with a string of releases and his most recent project ‘Tension Free’ was released in 2023 and showed this musically-evolving rapper hitting his stride. Now signed to Soul Kitchen / EMI North, he is building towards the next chapter, one that is more defiant, and more authentic than anything he has put together previously.

Sweets is characterised by a fierce determination, and his new, clear-eyed vision is present in this new collection of tracks on his coming EP ‘Give It To Me Straight’. He has now come to terms with himself – where he’s from, where he’s at – and the result is an ambitious body of work that doesn’t pull any punches. Throughout the record, you can hear the sound of someone overcoming obstacles, from his ADHD diagnosis when he was younger to being expelled from school and most recently a brush with a loss of hearing. All these things have added to his determination and resilience to not let anything get in the way of his goals.

With no more time for distractions or pussyfooting around, as the title suggests ‘Give It To Me Straight’ is a fat-free, no-nonsense approach to music and art. He wants to address things directly, choosing the truth over everything else, even if it can be hard to hear.

Sweets tells stories, his lyrics have a gnarled beauty as they document the struggles of mental health but with a positive spin, as he aims to engage honestly and positively about the issues he deals with and sees in others.

From his first love of words, he has now added a more musically infectious backdrop, with fuller sounds and stronger melodies, a development from the harder-edged sounds of Tension Free and other previous releases. Key influences for ‘Give It To Me Straight’ have been Bakar, Easy Life, Frank Ocean, Grimes and Swedish punk act Demi Alek.

Sweets previously saw himself as a writer before he was a musician, but now the musical side has caught up, and the perfect accompaniment to his unique delivery and state-of-the-nation lyrics.

Speaking on the track Sweets says –

“BUTTAH’ is an allegory of unchecked power and inauthenticity. It satirises and comments on the potential that status and money have to override the use of a moral compass. The character jumps from disposable lover to lover and social setting to social setting. Driven by a dangerous insecurity and need to show who’s boss and receive adoration.”