Native Tongue signs NZ rapper JessB

Independent Australasian publisher Native Tongue has signed Auckland hip hop act JessB.

Born Jess Bourke, the message-driven rapper in her early 20s was nominated for breakthrough artist and best hip hop artist at the 2018 New Zealand Music Awards.

Following up her Bloom EP from last year, her new single ‘Bump Bump’ feat. Church Leon is the first track off a new project due later in the year.

“I’m super excited to be working with Native Tongue and expanding my possibilities in terms of writing and connecting to new places and people,” she says.

Matt Tanner, head of creative services at Native Tongue, adds, “JessB has been blazing her own path in hip hop over the past couple of years and we’ve been watching her crush it.

“We recognise Jess’s incredible drive and we’re excited to join her team and play a part in her career.

“Jess is currently writing in London, Amsterdam and LA over the next month”.

Growing up of Kenyan descent in NZ, her songs address LGBTI+ and diversity issues as well as “going out partying because that’s part of me as well.”

After she set up a SoundCloud account after high school she was immediately discovered by foremost NZ producer P-Money.