Yusuf Yellow is seamlessly developing a burgeoning reputation as a stalwart of the Leeds scene. The artists song writing navigates through the different stages of his life, overhauling his creativity in the process, as demonstrated in his latest EP “what do you see?”. Sonically, Yusuf Yellow’s sound takes as much from current hip-hop, with a hypnotic flow, as it does from the masterful production value of the early 2000s onwards. Yusuf recently performed some unforgettable gigs at Tramlines Festival, Hifi Sunday Joint & The Wardrobe in Leeds with his 8 piece band, followed by one of his signature cypher’s, as well as supporting Jelani Blackman, Wiki, This Is The Kit, TC & The Groove Family. Yusuf’s recent live session videos with his band received some success and were featured on BBC Introducing West Yorkshire’s website and one of them was played on BBC Radio 1. Yusuf and his team also run a monthly open mic Hiphop night called “bars club” with aims to build a community in Leeds through hiphop. Yusuf is an artist forging his way to a discography of limitless promise, and certainly one to watch out for! 

It’s always hard to not evaluate an artist’s work against what they’ve done before, or the peers around them. Yet, Yusuf Yellow is developing a truly unique vision that reaches far beyond cool songs – it’s a document of who he is, and what that means in this moment of his life. The ability to acknowledge, and in turn act on his responsibility as an artist is what makes his music so simultaneously personal and universal.

If you delve deeply enough into modern music making- a murky barrage of ghost writers often appears. That couldn’t be further from the creative output of Yusuf Yellow, an artist whose work is steeped in the sonic elixir of Hip Hop’s past, present and future. His work poignantly paints the picture of the trials and tribulations of day-to-day life laid bare, from the perspective of an artist whose music is indelibly intertwined with their identity.

The Leeds-based rapper has a unique ability to share experiences that are so profoundly personal, extrapolating them into such relatable lyrics. The restorative impact of such honest song writing feels truly revelatory, an impactful reminder to ask ourselves what we see in the art we make and love.