Happy MFing New Year, SOTB Faithful. We’re entering the home stretch in the “Speed Instrumentality Project” (or whateverthehell I’m calling it in reference to Son of the Beast 2: Neon Genesis SOTB). Because of this, be prepared to expect me to blow your feeds up with new music from various artists between recommendations, SubmitHub and elsewhere. Today, I want to start 2024 off on an anthemic note with UK hip-hop artist J.Swave’s “This Year is My Year.”

When the clock turns over to the new year, many of us say “new year, new me.” However, many of us sometimes fall back into bad habits and end up putting off true self-improvement until we need it to avoid sinking completely. Sorry for pessimistic vibes so early in the year, but let’s be real. Swave sets out to say “screw that noise” and proclaim that 2024 is gonna be the year he makes his mark. The artist does so in a way that’s conscious but braggy and throwback but modern, all at once. From the beat to the lyrics Swave gives us here, listeners will be hard-pressed to find something glaringly wrong with the song. In fact, because of the UK-residing, Nigeria-rooted artist’s honesty, straightforwardness and humble brags, “My Year” and its energy create a track that feels like Drake’s “thinking man” songs but also sounds like its own thing entirely. In other words, you’ve got a banger this early in the year. 2024 is off to a good start, so don’t stop pushing–especially if you know that you are a Heavenly Individual, Matured (or, y’know, you are “HIM”).

Check it out below and remember to support dope music in all its forms.