Taken from this week’s Future Pop mailer. Click here to subscribe.
This is one of those times when some of my readers will be rolling their eyes at how late I am on this artist, but just as many will have little clue who he is or why they should care. Logic may have been releasing music since 2009, but with his new album he has achieved his first UK top 20 album and his first US top 50 single. I had been aware of him by name for a few years, but only took notice when he collaborated with one of my favourite people on the current pop scene, Alessia Cara. Their song 1-800-273-8255 sounded like an undeniable hit, and I appreciated it even more when I found out the strange title is actually the phone number for the US National Suicide Prevention Hotline. Speaking of strange names, Logic’s real name is Sir Robert Bryson Hall II. He’s a 27-year-old rapper, singer, songwriter and producer, who became known for a series of EPs, before being signed to independent label Visionary Music Group, and later Def Jam. He released his third album Everybody last month, and it has already produced three big online hits: the aforementioned 1-800-273-8255, the title track Everybody, and what might become his signature song, Black SpiderMan. These tracks stand out for their accessible sound and commercial potential, and Black SpiderMan in particular is filled with witty, personal and topical lyrics.