Genesis Owusu’s debut, ‘Smiling With No Teeth’, is Art with a capital ‘A’. He follows Kanye West and Solange Knowles in presenting an ambitious concept album with a cerebral theme and experimental sonics, defined by the auteur’s curation – rapping, singing and directing. ‘Smiling’ isn’t ‘Australian hip-hop’ as you know it: Genesis’ avant-funk pushes boundaries and amplifies individualism and free expression. Above all, the Canberran poetically twins his identity as an “outcast” with a desire to be defiantly outré.

Genesis has ventured far since he was a triple j Unearthed High finalist, dropping 2017’s jazz-rap ‘Cardrive’ EP. He’s worked with the Hiatus Kaiyote fold and Free Nationals’ Callum Connor – but on this album, he performs with a band formed around him by his OURNESS label co-founder, Andrew Klippel.

With ‘Smiling With No Teeth’, Genesis Owusu has delivered a riveting album that underscores the power of self-knowledge, perspective and art – one that should be cranked loud.