Words by Bradley Asamoah-Mensah

Ever since 2017, Bawo has been blending his laid-back delivery with pronounced, magnetic beats that really make you tap into the three-minute story he’s telling you. Eight years on, nothing’s changed except the size of the audience waiting for his next drop. The West London artist has carved out his own lane around emotion, detail and nuance, and his recent run suggests he’s gearing up for something bigger.

Just this week, he hinted at what’s to come. On December 7th, Bawo put a story up, sitting next to Knucks and AntsLive, two artists whose music is adjacent to his in terms of revised lyricism, relaxed flow and addictive bars. Coming off the back of two singles in two months (“In My Palm” in October and “I’m So” in late November), the timing feels intentional. Whether it’s a collab with the two or a bigger body of work, there’s a feeling that 2026 could have something big in store for Bawo.

His consistency in the second half of the year has been impressive, with both tracks uncovering different pockets of his music, from sharper, energetic tunes to melodic, mesmeric tracks. The first half of the year also has some benchmark moments. June presented his first Glastonbury call-up on the Lonely Hearts Stage, alongside names like RUBII, Fatboy Slim and Rudimental. Months later, he drops an OnTheRadar freestyle with Sam Wise, underlining his quality lyrically.

But to understand why these moments matter, you have to trace the path that brought him here.

2022 is where the momentum shifted and when people really started clocking on. “SKATE” was the track that got his sound into numerous playlists along with versatility on tracks, memorable hooks and powerful verses. Alongside “Surf That Well,” the two tracks gave Bawo that unique sound that has boosted his recognition, with the trajectory only going up and up.

This sound found its fullest expression on his debut album “Legitimate Cause” (January 2023), featuring Ayeisha Raquel, Reek0 and Oscar #Worldpeace. A year later came a career milestone: a spot on A COLORS SHOW, performing “Hope You’re Listening”, a reflective, spiritually-leaning track exploring loss and grounding. That performance built anticipation for “It Means Hope Where I’m From” (October 2024), a project that showcased his storytelling and gave him a place among the UK’s most thoughtful, quietly influential artists.

 Bawo - Hope You're Listening | A COLORS SHOW

Now, eight years into a career built on patience, craft and subtle evolution, Bawo feels on the brink of something. The recent releases, the industry recognition, and the already existing body of work. All of it smells like something’s brewing for Bawo and the world he’s currently building.

If 2023 was his breakout, and 2024-25 were his proof of concept, 2026 might be the moment where the rest of the UK catches up.