UK rap wonderkids ArrDee and Aitch join forces on new single “WAR,” out today via Republic Records. Stream it HERE.
Propelled by a triumphant, mariachi-sampling drill production, “WAR” sees both artists trade slick verses and demonstrate exactly why they are two of the country’s most adored musical talents.
The suitably combative official video—released via ArrDee‘s YouTube features ArrDee and Aitch assemble rival battalions—fit with tank-like 4x4s, balaclava-clad horsemen and footsoldiers dressed in black—before clashing on the sands of ArrDee’s native Brighton. The epic visuals were shot by Gabriella Kingsley (Fireboy DML, Ed Sheeran, Krept & Konan, Eugy, Mr Eazi).
Having drawn comparisons in the past—both for their physical appearance and rapping style—the social media buzz was accentuated when the pair connected via Instagram Live last month. Within a week they found themselves in the studio, and “‘WAR” was the end product.
The release of “WAR” also coincides with the announcement of ArrDee’s hotly-anticipated debut mixtape Pier Pressure, with the pre-order officially going live alongside the single’s release. Primed for release on Friday March 18th, more details will be revealed over the coming weeks.
It follows three UK ‘Top 10’ singles for ArrDee, in the form of “Flowers (Say My Name),” “Oliver Twist” and “Wasted” with Digga D, tracks that have amassed more than 140 million combined Spotify streams. He was also nominated for ‘Best Newcomer’ at the GRM Daily Rated Awards and the MOBOs, as well as winning ‘Best Song’ for the “Body” remix alongside Russ and Tion Wayne, a huge international hit that spent three weeks at #1 in the UK Singles charts—the first drill record to do so. If this wasn’t enough, he released “Wid It,” a collaborative single with fellow chart-topper Tion Wayne that again broke it into the UK ‘Top 20’, and overall he has amassed a whopping 5 billion views on TikTok.
About ArrDee
ArrDee burst onto the scene with debut single “Cheeky Bars” at the start of last year, a track that has received over 5 million YouTube streams after being premiered by Mixtape Madness. It also picked up organic radio support from Tiffany Calver, DJ Target (BBC 1Xtra), Ricky Melvin and Charlie Hedges (BBC Radio 1) and made its way onto Spotify NMF UK and Rap UK, debuting at #14 in the Viral chart. Then came “6AM In Brighton,” an ode to his hometown that perfectly showcased the 21-year-old’s rapid-fire flow and heart-on-sleeve lyricism, surpassing 2 million YouTube views inside its first month of release.
About Aitch
In the late-2010s after the success of viral freestyle “Straight Rhymez,” Aitch quickly cemented a position as one of the UK’s biggest rappers. After featuring on prolific hits like “Keisha & Becky” and “Strike A Pose,” the charismatic young MC then took his own place in the charts with the popular hit “Taste (Make It Shake)” and EP: AitcH20.Two of the most in-demand names in British music finally link up and giving the public what they’ve long since wanted—with predictably stellar results.
