‘Victory Lap Five’: The Final Lap Released by Fred Again… Featuring A Powerhouse Line-Up

After months of teasing features and dropping heat after heat with each addition, Fred Again…, Skepta and PlaqueBoyMax have released the final version of ‘Victory Lap’.

From previewing the track on a twitch live stream DJ set to now having 7 iconic artists on one electronic rave beat - Fred Again… has definitely made a mark with this series as he merges global rap and hip hop artists with a remixed sample from Doechii and Rico Nasty’s ‘Swamp Bitches’ to give us ‘Victory Lap Five’.

During a surprise headline set at Big Smoke Festival in South London last month, Fred Again… and Skepta teased the much anticipated final version of the demo which gave us a sneak preview of a blended sample from Lyny’s ‘Section’. The response had fans waiting for the newest drop.

In the track itself we hear Skepta’s dynamic flow and gritty bars. The verse that accelerated the momentum of the song. Having Skepta showcase his renowned rap skills really reminds us of the iconic grime genre that is prevalent in the UK scene.

His verse acts as an anchor in the song as it steadily follows the beat with his signature husky delivery of the lyrics. We hear his ad-libs throughout which add to the tension and build energy overall. Skepta’s verse doesn’t look to dominate as much as it complements and enhances the weight of the track. Ultimately Skepta lays down a lyrical foundation perfectly representing a UK grime-rooted verse.

Denzel Curry’s feature was added in July, showcasing his rapid-fire signature rap style. In this verse we can hear the start of experimentation with the beat as Denzel plays with the tempo of not only his flow but also the backing track as he spreads out denser bars with open spaces - almost stopping to catch the beat again.

Curry's rap-style adds American swagger to the song as he talks about haters, material success and lifestyle. The urgency of his verse and sharp delivery adds hype overall and contrasts nicely with Skepta’s verse. 

Hanumankind, an upcoming Desi rap and hiphop artist, joined for the third release of Victory Lap and became a significant addition to the song.

His seamless delivery-style on his verse really diversified the sound, providing sharpness in clarity and international swagger, that cuts through the dense production of the music - really dancing with the heavier electronic dubstep/dnb influence in this part of the song.

This combination of an Indian-born and US-raised global rapper on a UK rave beat by Fred Again… adds to the uniqueness of this track. Although his verse is shorter than the rest, Hanumankind really treads the flow near the end and builds it steadily back into the legendary chorus.

We were teased with That Mexican OT’s feature on 'Victory Lap Three'. When Four was released we got to hear the interlude that launched us into his verse.

The Texas-born rapper once again adds a Southern-US influence into his track as he unapologetic delivers bars referencing his identity and personality - “Gangta Mexican, feelin' like I'm a cholo. Heavy and sexy, just like Moto Moto.” Adding this influence from his Mexican / Latinx roots and funny pop culture quips gives his style a personal touch and diversifies the sound further. That Mexican OT’s verse overall adds a dynamic shift, faster tempo and adds his playful persona into the sound.

The final verse showcases a noticeable beat switch up which has elements of heavier drum and bass influence. This is where Lyny’s ‘Section’ is sampled - arguably the peak climax and hype of the song overall.

The newest addition to Victory Lap, D Double E, jumps on and matches the production perfectly with rapid-delivery and abrasive lyrics. His hyper-expressive delivery style has influences from UK grime and garage. The punchy, quick repetition of the bars make the verse catchy and memorable. Instead of just being a normal addition to Victory Lap, D Double E really dominates the beat in a true grime MC fashion - ending Victory Lap once and for all.

Starting and ending the track with Skepta and D Double E, two legendary UK grime artists, is the perfect way to round up this music series. The live DJ sets and clues for the mystery features spoke to fans in an interactive way. This earned the artists recognition and praise from Billboard on its “powerhouse line-up”.

Layering global artists like Denzel Curry, Hanumankind, That Mexican OT, D Double E, Skepta and PlaqueBoyMax - Fred Again… has created a unique project that will be played, replayed and acknowledged in musical history.

Listen here