South London rapper Flohio is a curveball in the UK’s hip-hop scene. Her music is a mix of unconventional rhythms, electronic melodies and a high-speed flow that means she plays by her own rules. Her 2020 mixtape No Panic No Pain showed off her versatility and wordplay; her debut album Out of Heart attempts to do the same.
Flohio is a great picture painter with a detailed approach to storytelling: “Black flesh, linen in the Jeep,” she raps on LMPM. Songs such as Leash ooze with flair and style, bubbling with sultry synths and a singsong flow. Feel Alive is refreshingly distinct, with skeletal guitar chords and a heart-thumping beat that perfectly accompanies introspective lyrics: “I make a toast for my late friends, who can’t be here when the day ends.”
These songs are largely enjoyable, but Flohio misses the opportunity to take us on a journey. A central narrative or an overarching atmosphere feels missing, while her delivery is sometimes muffled; songs such as Highest lack vocal projection and clarity. Out of Heart may not be a home run, but Flohio still scores with her acrobatic rhyme patterns and experimental sonics.
