The suavest spitter in UK rap Sainté is back with a slick new EP “4L”, and drops by Wonderland to delve into the track-list.
Sainté is cool. Or is cool Sainté? The Leicester-born, London-based rapper has been a trailblazer in the UK scene with his flex-laden, luxury-heavy approach since now classic debut EP “Local MVP” back in 2021. Since, he’s grown his sound, matured his penmanship, expanded his pocket — last year’s “Still Local” debut mixtape an example of his sonic dexterity and emotional depth.
New EP “4L” is an emblem of his peerless charm and craft. The six-pronged project is a rich and rewarding listen, the closest work sonically to the laid-back jazzy textures of his aforementioned debut EP. “4L” is coherent, aura-fuelled, groove-laden, boasting production from scene favourites Parker Jazz and Oakland, and features from risers Kairo Keyz and Ledbyher, as well as — incredibly — Wiz Khalifa. The inclusion of the US rap heavyweight shows the vastness of Sainté’s reach and ambition.
At the top of his game, Sainté’s new opus is well crafted, charisma-heavy — undeniably smooth. To get a look inside, the LC man himself drops by to chop it up with Wonderland, taking us track-by-track for “4L”.
Listen to the EP…
Read the track-by-track…
“Lowkey” ft. Oakland:
The perfect intro… Whatever time it was in the morning, located in a townhouse somewhere in Camden. Myself, Oakland and the OG Parker Jazz were locked in. Parker had already started making a bunch of loops, but this one had caught my attention; oakland said he understood the assignment already. “I’m tryna catch vibes I’m recording, eyeing up a bag and I’m stalking / I can’t keep stalling” – the feeling of knowing what I wanted to do and say to intro the world to this body of work had me stalling, as I believe it’s took me living a lil bit to get everything to where it was for me to say – and now it’s time. All the travelling, shows, networking, fashion weeks and so on… I had to charge it into the sonics.
“Dora”
This one, I first heard it…it was wraps! It’s not even hard to believe, because personally I know the formula of sonics coming from both Parker and bb on a beat is insane. I wanted people to know I’m in my summer Sainté bag, and this beat was talking to me on a local ting: “I got no bad vibes in my aura, I got money in my bag like Dora inna Range Rover just doing explorer”. Originally being from Leicester which isn’t a major city, it’s different now I get to see and live in all types of place for my job – but the sonics here just allowed me to be myself and everything from how I would’ve when I started. There are no rivals or competition. I’m in my own lane, and as long as I got my resources and what I need to build and go crazy, I will always be on my own ting.
“Loot”
This one here is an anthem for all the people who have been about since my early start – and even from just yesterday! Everyone focused on making something happen, even from the very little they have, are still getting to the bag and to the LOOT! Nothing is ever easy, no matter how effortless and steely you make it look. We live in a generation of being locked in, and if you ain’t, you ain’t doing anything – but to whose standard? You shouldn’t be focused on others or let others pilot the plane you are flying to your destination. The people around you, your close ones and family – you should keep them close and allow them to help you balance things out. Keep real around you and stick to your craft, and the loot is inevitable. I had to dedicate a whole tune for my people and for others like myself… Give yourself and the real ones around you the flowers you DESERVE because it’s okay. Keep holding it down no matter what. From Leicester to all over the world on my own tour bus bigger than the one I would go on to work EVERYDAY!!! With MY PEOPLE!!!!
“Speed & Drift”
Made on a rainy day, yet radiating with summer vibes – and also all season round vibes. Around all my mandem… feel vibes in da room and some drinks if you know what I mean. “I gotta put a little lean in my step so she prees what’s next, you won’t believe what’s next” – on my lounge vibe BPM, I had to just let my personality talk for me, I was kozy! “Whippin a Beamer, I’m driving in Louis. I’m feeling like Ace!” Referring to one of my favourite films growing up and to date. Paid in Full’s Ace is a personality I really gravitate to… his humbleness, yet so loud-subtle flex… MVP for real.
“Days in the 3” ft. Kairo Keys & LedByHer
Another banger coming out from the Camden Town house. Omari pulled up about midday. We were catching up, I played him a couple tunes and he looked at me and said, “Yo, we need to make a skippy one.” By the time we had the hook – “OMG, I’m with my dargs for real!” – I literally thought I need my dargs on this, but I wanted none of my features to be predictable, as always. It took a minute, but when it all started to click I knew the world wouldn’t see it coming. Three different worlds on one tune. Last time I did a track with this many people it was on “Out The Blue”!
“DSM” ft. Wiz Khalifa:
Finishing up my New Zealand/ Australia tour, me and the mandem feeling spontaneous, decided to cool off in Bali because why not – and who would predict what would happen? Crashing out on a moped and still not ending my night there, I went on to record the same night: “Crashed out on a 125, I still gotta make sure I get big bags if I wrap up I’m hitting it right!” There was something about everything I was experiencing, because if I didn’t record it, who would believe me lol? “My cup got mud where I started from, the masseuse still tryna untie this knot” – knowing where this idea all started to what’s happening and what’s gone into this journey, it was unique enough to get one of my childhood legends on a track. Wiz Khalifa and his team heard the tune via mutuals of ours and the OG trusted the vision and naturally had to add a little seasoning to the dish before people heard it. “Rather than wait around I chose to boss up instead”… like he said. That’s what’s being done. It’s a 4L thing now, watch.
