While it seems like every other Swedish rapper is going through a sort-of revival, Lilla Namo is keeping it straight up and simple, yet cocky, with the Up To No Good production team. Together, they’re streamlining the melodies with Namo’s confident lyrics and everything but naive tone.

As many hip hop lyrics now seem to be dealing with the trials and tribulations of (mostly) Stockholm suburbs – not the one’s with newly built villas, freshly mown lawns with kids running around – Lilla Namo told Kobra last year that she doesn’t really see the point of rapping about where you’re from in that way. Namo raps about everything; how she’s a KTH student with a minor in street education, a Södermalm hipster and a hood rat all in one integrated cocktail.

The song Haffa Guzz puts Namo’s lyrical self in the position of a women-hungry man in Stockholm, while the latest Ny bil presents Lilla Namo as Sweden’s own Rick Ross. Kalla mig för Lilla men jag känner mig stor, roughly translated “call me Lilla (little) but I’m feeling big”, is a more accurate description of Lilla Namo’s musical work than I first imagined. She came from nowhere, was signed by Petter and is now considered one of our rap scene’s most talented song writers.

Seeing Lilla Namo live is probably like getting a kick in the face; but instead of loosing brain cells and physically receiving a dirty, hard boot in the face, you walk away richer, awakened. Or you just enjoy the show and realize Namo’s greatness.

Words by David Johansson

Lilla Namo is at Färgfabriken, April 4.