“Cosa Nostra” by Richie Gathu: an exotic hip-hop song that perfectly embodies the summer feeling that can be associated with this sound; the salsa guitar lines cleverly counterbalance the hip-hop percussion and bass-heavy beats combination, whilst Richie’s vocal delivery remains more musical and melodious than many contemporaries, helping to set him and his music apart.

The mix of styles appears to come directly from Richie’s own experiences – having been born in Kenya and grown up in Bristol – and resulted in a style that is both musically refreshing and identifiable with Richie as an artist. Having such a personal sound is a strong asset and will likely aid Richie’s quest to pursue music all the way to the top.

The evidence in such a statement comes from my own experiences: despite not being a fan of hip-hop, I have had this song on repeat and found my fondness of it increasing with each listen. If the song has that sort of impact on myself – as someone who traditionally does not understand, or listen, to hip-hop – then I imagine that the song will have an even greater impact upon the relevant music circles of fans that truly are into their hip-hop.

“As soon as I press play on Cosa Nostra, I’m teleported to Havana, Cuba or to the Amalfi Coast. In my mind, I see a beautiful sunset on the horizon, my body fuelled by 15 (or more) tequila shots as I hit the salsa across a pebbled street toward my lover who is in the exact same vibe as I am. The inspiration for the song stems from lockdown, the endless months of being separated from a lover and planning to “pull up” as soon as I could. I even had to sprinkle some Swahili in there to add extra flavour to the tune!” – Richie Gathu

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