Felix De Luca: First of the Month

As one of Europe’s most intriguing up and coming rappers, Felix has warmed up for a range of hip hop heavyweights including the likes of Danny Brown and The Underachievers, as well as being featured on Boiler Room, playing Roskilde Festival and headlining his own solo shows across Europe. Throughout ‘First of the Month,’ De Luca combines the raw authenticity of the 90’s American scene with more contemporary European inspirations such as a choppy, grimy beat produced by long time collaborator DontAxAboutIt, and a feature full to the brim with South London’s Jamaican patois-infused slang.

Felix De Luca: First of the Month

With a Big L sample in his 2013 single ‘Keep It Up’, and references to Mobb Deep in ‘First of the Month,’ Felix makes no bones about the influence that retro New York hip hop and skate culture has had on him. Originating from a fashion background, his aesthetic is grounded in the sort of 90’s skate stylings that have seen a revival over the last couple of years – bucket hats, flannel shirts and sports jerseys; all of which have their place in the track’s slick accompanying visuals. Filmed on the streets of Brixton in South London, the video carries echoes of the film that defines the 90’s New York skate aesthetic: Larry Clark’s ‘Kids’.

Felix De Luca: First of the Month

The opening line, ‘They’re waving a cheque at the end of the tunnel’ perfectly illustrates what the track means to Felix. “I wrote this joint on an empty stomach trynna figure out how I was gonna get money, to pay rent and avoid my power getting cut off. A couple days after I received a royalty check that saved my ass. This music game is crazy, if you like economic stability stay in school kids.” Whilst Felix is set to blow, he still has to deal with the difficulties that come with following your dreams. Already championed by platforms including Pigeons and Planes and Red Bull Music, as well as being co-signed by the likes of Gaika on his NTS show, Felix shows no signs of slowing down. With a summer which will see him collaborate with the likes of Kojey Radical, as well as release his hotly tipped debut international E.P, this young talent is clearly on a mission to put Danish rap on the map.

Felix De Luca: First of the Month Lyrics: