A quick listen to quick-witted 18-year old Sneakbo, a scholar of the university of life, should suffice when identifying a kingpin from the new wave of UK rap talent.

The stats talk too. Sneakbo’s five million YouTube views, notched up in just five months, speaks volumes while new mixtape, I’m Buzzin’, secured 5,000 downloads in a mere day and a half. Not one to be called work shy, Sneakbo and his right hand man Shamar are respected for their online formula, shooting and uploading a video on the same day then spending 24-hours seeding it, creating the hype that’s needed in the ever-saturated urban market.

“I just like to be in control of my work and know who’s into it, who’s blogging it, who’s deleting it… Too many artists don’t learn what’s what till it’s too far down the line. I’ve started as I mean to go on.” Sneakbo

With his heritage tucked away in Lagos, it’s Brixton, south London that he calls home. Growing up on a diet of Tupac, 50 Cent, D’banj, P Square, Mavado, Linkin Park and Vybz Kartel, where Sneakbo’s tracks are concerned he flits between tales of street life and good time party tracks that nod towards the quintessential teen dream. The first UK rapper to jump on the big Jamaican riddims, utilising the bashment penchant for memorable catchphrases, Sneakbo’s quickly become the sound of the urban clubbing scene in London

After finishing school and finding himself on the wrong side of the law, it was a brief stint in Feltham Young Offenders Institution that gave Sneakbo the wake-up call he needed to focus on making something out of his music. Having already garnered online heat with his rap outing ‘Hold You’, like every good rapper he soon discovered what was to become his trademark – the simple yet effective ‘Jet Ski’ mantra. While you won’t catch him doing a Sean Kingston anytime soon, there is a range of ‘Ride The Wave’ T-shirts on the landing pad.

“It just became something we’d all say… ‘I need to get on a jet ski, it’s time to jet ski…’ crowds at clubs picked up on it quickly… It’s become my brand.”

The mixtapes ‘Jet Ski Wave’, ‘Fresh Money’ and ‘Peakbo’ have further sealed his rising star, nailing the coveted no.1 most downloaded spot over at hoodtapes.co.uk. Tracks ‘Hold You’, ‘Touch A Button’, ‘Wave Like Us’ and covers of ‘G6’, ‘Airplanes’, ‘Roll Up’, ‘Hello Good Morning and ‘Champion’ need no introduction.

Having been in the studio with production hotshots Parker & James (Jessie J), Sneakbo is looking to further his repertories, exploring everything from afro-beat to dubstep. Having collaborated with Chipmunk, Mavado, Soundgirl, Angel and Ruff Diamondz, he’s now hoping to impress upon summer with his electro-inspired ‘Sneakbo Wave’. Produced by UK fave Ill Blu (Cheryl Cole, Roll Deep), MistaJam, of Radio 1/ 1Xtra fame, has been playing the record religiously on air and in the club.

“I just want people to move to my music. I don’t want to spend my life looking over my shoulder, I just want to party and be free – well that and a collaboration with Wiz Khalifa.”

With a remix package destined to blow the sub-woofer, if you’re feeling the Sneakbo school of thought there’s only one thing to do – join the wave.

The Mixtape is now available on www.jetskiwave.com alongside his new line of RIDE THE WAVE clothing.