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When we last heard from UK rap sensation Rizzle Kicks it was 2013, with the release of their hit album Roaring 20s. However, after a near-decade-long hiatus, the duo have made a stunning return into our hearts and headphones with their latest album Competition is for Losers. 

After forming in 2008, Jordan Stephens and Harley Alexander-Sule slotted perfectly into the UK’s growing rap-pop landscape. Between 2011 and 2013, they landed seven UK Top 20 hits, with moment-defining tracks such as ‘Mama Do the Hump’ and ‘Down With the Trumpets’ reaching positions number two and eight respectively. The pair announced their comeback via Instagram in November 2024, writing, “There’s nothing better than making music with your best friend and this body of work has some of our favourite tracks we ever created on it.” The big question for fans and critics alike was that of maturity, whether the music would change alongside the boys. In answer, Jordan and Harley released a work through which growth, passion, and authenticity shine. In a recent conversation with BBC Newsbeat, Jordan stated that the both of them “needed some time to grow up out of the spotlight”, continuing on to describe any future successes as “bonus rounds” as a result of the genuine love they have for their jobs.  While a cheeky, youthful attitude radiates through their older hits, such as ‘Skip to the Good Bit’, ‘Mama Do the Hump’, and ‘Down With the Trumpets’, Competition is for Losers is searingly personal and musically brilliant, showcasing their hard-earned maturity as well as retaining the joyfulness of their earlier works. 

As expected, the landscape into which Rizzle Kicks are returning in 2025, is vastly different from the one they dominated at the height of their careers. As Jordan told Metro, during the duo’s peak around 2012, “It was an amazing time, but there was a whole different perception of ‘coolness’”. In contrast, he states that over the last few years, “suddenly, it’s felt like our joy is quite rebellious… I think it’s actually cooler now than it was before to be joyful, on the basis that it’s not as readily available anymore. It’s almost like a scarcity, so our currency’s gone up, our currency of joy is up.” 

For Rizzle Kicks, this joy is a choice, rather than a vibe. While talking to Jack Gray, Jordan shared, ‘I don’t hide away from my own battles with addiction…we delve into stressful times, but also lighter – be there with your mate and have fun.” The balancing act between grit and lightness is definitive of their comeback. It’s not about relying on nostalgia or pretending things are easy for them, it’s about choosing joy nonetheless.

This perspective is particularly evident in their new work, such as new single, ‘Follow Excitement!’. The beat and buoyancy of this track carry echoes of their previous releases, however, the lyrics are much more emotionally honest and introspective. Rising star Rachel Chinouriri serves as the vocal hook for this track, her voice bringing a warmth that blends impeccably with the boys’ breezy tones . This song embodies the ethos of Competition is for Losers, which Jordan describes as “about where we’re at right now. Which is love, and having a good time.” This sentiment is exemplified through lyrics like: ‘Givin’ it some welly, even if it’s straight from the heart, it might not chart / So you might as well dance.” Their newest single serves as a simple but profound declaration of optimism, as well as a chance to reject the anxieties and pressures they experienced at the hands of the industry during their teens. 

The return of this sensational pair comes at a moment when we could all use an infusion of joy. While the boys don’t wish to dwell on the past too heavily, their music offers light, fun, and just enough nostalgia, a reminder, as Jordan states, of “a time where the world wasn’t falling apart.” Competition is for Losers is joyful, thoughtful, and unapologetically authentic, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.