Kae Tempest

Forging an impressive and wide-ranging career as a poet, rapper, playwright, and novelist, Britain's Kae Tempest has shown dazzling command as an intuitive wordsmith, approaching each of their disciplines with depth and compassion. A spoken word performer and rapper since their teenage days, the London native's originality and insight for human emotions have earned widespread recognition and two Mercury Prize nominations for their innovative rap/spoken word albums Everybody Down and Let Them Eat Chaos. Leaning increasingly away from the more direct rap style of their earlier work, their 2019 album The Book of Traps and Lessons featured a minimalist blend of gentle organic rhythms and acoustic arrangements. Three years later, 2022's The Line Is a Curve saw Tempest blending more electronic elements back into their sound and teaming up with a bevy of unique guests.