Swet Shop Boys

The border-defying hip-hop group Swet Shop Boys was formed in the 2010s by Indian-American rapper <a href="spotify:artist:7x3mbyjfOZ9y599MHmyNOu">Heems</a>, Pakistani-English MC <a href="spotify:artist:5R8TntIOEwJcu4NnhGi8KW">Riz Ahmed</a>, and English producer <a href="spotify:artist:72WcKL1SYgNzcNojYLFQsB">Redinho</a>. They issued their politically charged debut Cashmere in 2016 to critical acclaim.

<a href="spotify:artist:7x3mbyjfOZ9y599MHmyNOu">Heems</a> (half of <a href="spotify:artist:4iqAeIP1ynbt71G0Oi8VIt">Das Racist</a>) and <a href="spotify:artist:5R8TntIOEwJcu4NnhGi8KW">Riz</a> (an accomplished actor who stars in TV and film, including roles in The Night Of, Nightcrawler, and Star Wars: Rogue One) initially met via Twitter, when <a href="spotify:artist:7x3mbyjfOZ9y599MHmyNOu">Heems</a> complimented a track <a href="spotify:artist:5R8TntIOEwJcu4NnhGi8KW">Riz</a> had shared. Sometime after their online encounter, <a href="spotify:artist:5R8TntIOEwJcu4NnhGi8KW">Riz</a> landed a lead role in The Night Of and needed to research life as a South-Asian American living in New York. Naturally, <a href="spotify:artist:7x3mbyjfOZ9y599MHmyNOu">Heems</a> offered to show him around, even inviting <a href="spotify:artist:5R8TntIOEwJcu4NnhGi8KW">Riz</a> to stay with his family. During their time together in America they managed to write and record a four-track EP titled Swet Shop; thus, their collaborative name was coined.

Two years later, in 2016, <a href="spotify:artist:7x3mbyjfOZ9y599MHmyNOu">Heems</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:5R8TntIOEwJcu4NnhGi8KW">Riz</a> found the time to start on a full-length record, this time bringing London-based producer <a href="spotify:artist:72WcKL1SYgNzcNojYLFQsB">Redinho</a> into the fold to make the beats and melodies. Despite the difference in distance and scheduling, the three of them managed to make it work, with <a href="spotify:artist:72WcKL1SYgNzcNojYLFQsB">Redinho</a> producing the instrumentals upfront before getting the two MCs to write their lyrics. The final recording process took place over five days in London, resulting in their debut album, Cashmere, which appeared in late 2016. Tackling culture, race, and politics with sharp wit and a welcome perspective, the set was met with critical acclaim. The next year, Swet Shop Boys issued the EP Sufi La. ~ Liam Martin, Rovi