Avelino

Born Achi Avelino on 4 June 1993 in Tottenham London, UK, the British hip-hop heavyweight known professionally as Avelino—who is of Congolese and Angolan descent—first stepped out in the early 2010s, sharing videos of himself freestyling under the alias AA, and dropped his debut mixtape, Underdog Music, via More Music Records in 2013. He staked his claim as one of UK rap's hottest new talents with the follow-up mixtape, 2014's Iconic Ambition, which helped to grow his reputation on home soil, particularly in London, thanks to the support of BBC Radio 1Xtra mainstay DJ Semtex. The tape also featured a collaborative track with Croydon rapper Bonkaz and grime VIP Stormzy called "No Comment," which ultimately led to a career-boosting slot supporting Stormzy on tour in 2015. That same year, Avelino joined forces with UK rapper Wretch 32 for a collaborative mixtape Young Fire, Old Flame, which also featured guest spots from Sneakbo, Loick Essien, and Fuse ODG and was accompanied by a talked-about freestyle set from Avelino and Wretch 32 for BBC Radio 1's Fire in the Booth. Avenlio marked his territory in 2016 with his first solo EP, FYO, produced by Raf Riley. The following year he dropped a powerhouse collaboration with Skepta and Stormzy, "Energy," which was featured in the videogame FIFA 18. Three more mixtapes have since followed: 2017's No Bullshit, 2021's Ego Kills, and 2023's God Save the Streets.