"These are deep-fried potatoes that are lathered in batter, then deep-fried all over again until they congeal into a crisp, iridescent mass. Birmingham locals-Brummies, as they're known-treat delicacies like battered chips with a reverence Parisians reserve for haute cuisine. It's bad for them, they know, but Brits take pride in the ridiculous, delicious traditions unique to the working-class cities of England."
"The English rapper, guitarist, producer and label-head is a remarkably prolific DIY artist whose work spans drill, skittish cloud rap, and sprawling free-jazz psychedelia. Much of his music revolves around the very excitement of making it: perpetually energized by the power of imagination, and the notion that enough of it can help the artist outgrow any circumstance."
"You don't choose the city you're from any more than you choose the name you're given. My name isn't even mine, it's what I get called. My name was given, not chosen, and for me that says it all."
Tony Bontana, a Birmingham-born rapper, guitarist, and producer, celebrates the unique food traditions and resilience of his hometown on his latest album. Battered chips—potatoes deep-fried twice until crispy—exemplify the pride Brummies take in their working-class delicacies, comparable to Parisian reverence for haute cuisine. Bontana's prolific DIY work spans multiple genres including drill, cloud rap, and free-jazz psychedelia, consistently emphasizing imagination's power to transcend circumstances. His album My Name, a sequel to L'Humanité, explores identity through spoken-word interludes and musical ruminations. The project examines how names and origins shape identity, with Bontana's friend Izzi reflecting on how her name was given rather than chosen, embodying themes of heritage and self-determination that animate the entire work.
Read at Pitchfork
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