British hip-hop artist Speech Debelle is back in the spotlight with her latest single, “11:11”, taken from her fourth studio album, Sunday Dinner On a Monday, which is out now. This album marked a significant return to the music scene for the critically acclaimed artist, whose career took off with her Mercury Prize-winning debut album, Speech Therapy, in 2009.
Speech Debelle’s music has always been characterised by its sensitivity, introspection and an ability to weave poetic testimonies, playful narratives and thought-provoking discussions on power, politics and pleasure. Her sophomore album, Freedom Of Speech, produced by Kwes in 2012, further solidified her reputation as an artist unafraid to explore a wide range of themes in her work.
After taking a step back from music for a few years, Speech Debelle devoted her time to her other passions and impressed audiences as a semi-finalist on Celebrity MasterChef, showcasing her culinary skills and inventive recipes. Unifying her love for both music and food, Speech created the podcast The Work Brunch, where she cooked and discussed music, life and inspiration with esteemed guests such as Lianne La Havas, Nitin Sawhney, Shabaka Hutchings and Mikill Pane. With her third album, Tantil Before I Breathe, Speech took her artistic expression to a new level by pairing each of its nine songs with a delicious, inspired recipe, combining the elements of music and food into a unique, immersive experience.
More recently, Speech Debelle was featured in the BBC‘s three-part documentary series First Ladies of Hip-Hop. This documentary celebrates the remarkable contributions of female hip-hop artists over the last 50 years and recognises the triumphs of British women in hip-hop.
Now, Speech Debelle is making headlines once again with latest single “11:11”, a track that encapsulates elegance, grace, bravado and rap. Produced by Skripture, with additional production by Dem Drums, the song exudes the energy reminiscent of classic hip-hop. The single arrives alongside an equally impressive music video directed by Aiden Harmitt-Williams.
Speaking about “11:11”, Speech Debelle says, “The track reminded me instantly of classic hip-hop. It has that energy that makes you want to let everyone know what you as a rapper are meant to do with a beat.” “11:11” is a testament to Speech’s continued creativity and her ability to evolve as an artist while staying true to her unique style. “11:11” is available to buy/stream now on all platforms: https://slinky.to/1111.
