“The marriage of grime and jazz started for us when we'd play covers of JME instrumentals”, explains Ezra bandleader Femi Koleoso. Nialler9·Earl Sweatshirt More Than A Hustler | Ezra Collective & Novelist - Bandcamp
: Bandleader Femi Koleoso describes the track as a "tale of how we are consistently on the quest for greatness, and how we are more than just that journey—way more". It challenges the notion that an individual is defined solely by their work or productivity.
"More Than A Hustler" is a collaboration between the London jazz quintet and grime MC Novelist , released in December 2021. The track explores the "quest for greatness" and the idea that an artist's identity and journey are far more significant than just the "hustle" of achieving success. The Story & Meaning The song’s narrative is built on the following themes: “The marriage of grime and jazz started for
: It begins with an isolated drum pattern, quickly joined by "mystical horns".
: The track is part of Ezra Collective's ongoing experiment in merging London's jazz and grime scenes. This "marriage" began when the band started playing covers of JME instrumentals, leading to previous collaborations like "Quest For Coin II". Musical Journey "More Than A Hustler" is a collaboration between
: Novelist’s delivery starts steady and gathers "pace and power" as the song progresses, reflecting the "grinding" nature of the journey he describes. The 20 best songs of January 2022
The song follows a specific sonic progression intended to mirror its message: : The track is part of Ezra Collective's
: A deep bass line enters to introduce the core groove.