🎧 Approved: Ryder

At just 20, Ryder is proof that the internet can still warp reality in real time. His viral #skeptacore project – where he reworked Skepta’s bars into something opaque, emotive and sonically untethered – amassed millions of TikTok views, catching the attention of labels and, eventually, Skepta himself. Within 48 hours in the studio, they had a full collaborative EP.

Ryder’s production drifts between J Dilla’s loose, soulful swing and Labi Siffre’s rich, cinematic textures, sidestepping conventional 4/4 patterns in favour of something more fluid. His new single ‘WTF’ featuring BXKS pushes that fluidity further.

Co-produced with Leon Jean-Marie, ‘WTF’ pulses with the bass-heavy bounce of Brazilian funk, built for movement and mayhem. “When people hear that, they just go mad”, he says. 

It’s a track that moves and pushes, but if you peel back the layers, you’ll find a more intricate, tech-influenced production lurking underneath – something that suggests Ryder’s ability to blend weighty rhythms with forward-thinking soundscapes.

From viral sensation to Skepta collaborator, Ryder brings a fresh perspective to production – one that thrives on reinvention and unpredictability, making him one to watch.

🎧 Listen to ‘WTF’ featuring BXKS below