A1 x J1

Having met through social media during the COVID-19 pandemic, Coventry-based A1 and Kent-based J1 decided to embark on a musical career together in 2020, working collaboratively on tracks while under lockdown at home. The pair were a natural match — A1 provided sticky choruses and verses in a croon-heavy style, while J1 offered a youthful, yet more traditional U.K. rap counterpart. After a snippet of unreleased track “Latest Trends” found viral success on social media, the duo set to work on a full studio version, which was picked up and released by EMI Records in February 2021. With its earworm “You wouldn’t know this, but my heart’s cold like my home is” hook, the track’s pop-rap stylings soon captured the same viral success as its snippet, peaking at number 12 on the U.K. charts. ~ David Crone