“I’m excited by anything that’s new and fresh,” Costadinos Contostavlos—better known as Dappy—tells Apple Music. “Because right when I hear it, I know, soon I’ll add my version to this. I try and keep up to date with everything. Not that I need to, but I’ll never be ignorant—I just love the game.” During his first run out with London trio N-Dubz, Dappy progressed his grip on radio-friendly melodies across sounds from underground rap and grime until the group’s 2011 hiatus. This 11-track mixtape (his second full-length project following 2012’s Bad Intentions) sees him return with fresh vigor and expression on a polished batch of zeitgeisty street styles. It also taps back into Dappy’s ability to harness a successful collaboration. There’s a thrilling Abra Cadabra feature on fiery drill production “Bolo,” smooth duets with UK rap queens Stefflon Don (“Word to My Mother”) and Shaybo (“What’s Yours Is Mine”), and the infectious hybrid anthem “Antigua,” with BackRoad Gee and M24—his most dynamic work in more than a decade. “At the end of the day, I’m a songwriter,” he says. “And that is the real key to longevity. As long as I stay writing, I’ll always have something under my sleeve.” Below, Dappy talks us through his mixtape, track by track. “Intro” “This is real rap. And it’s a true story, here—I’m giving out pain. I’ve had songs like this before, and the feedback is amazing, from so many that can relate.” “Say Less” (feat. Nafe Smallz) “This track is about learning from the mistakes on the path to becoming a man, and I’m giving out more lessons here. Because you can’t be out here in designer drip when you haven’t helped family, seriously. I think this should help smarten and sharpen some people up. I’m hoping.” “Bolo” (feat. Abra Cadabra) “When Abra and I rap together, we put the gloves on and go at it, and it’s always so cold. We went berserk here. I really love his voice and the energy he brings to songs, on a drilly vibe. We have another track, ‘Selective Bad Boys’; it’s on Abz’s tape [Product of My Environment] that came out last year. We go back-to-back on that, so if you haven’t heard it, check out that first.” “Marathon” (feat. ADP) “This is a hard, trappy vibe, and I’m talking my tings. And some of my favorite lines are here: ‘I just wanna say, I’m running a marathon, this ain’t a race/I’m trying to leave a legacy for my kids/And pass on the baton like Nipsey the great.’ I haven’t reached the end of my marathon, trust me. I’m still young, and I look good. There’s no way I’ll stop.” “Champagne” “A lot of the time, the scenarios and situations in my songs aren’t directly based off my own experience. For songs like this, I guess I just know how to relate to different situations, relationships, or even on the streets. This is back to the Afroswing vibe, but listen closely, though. I’m saying deep stuff.” “Word to My Mother” (feat. Stefflon Don) “This one’s all about money, respect, and power. I won’t say too much because it’s more powerful once you listen to it. And I’m so happy that I was able to get Steff on this record. She’s a great artist, a true queen in her own right.” “Wounds” “Every vocal on this song has been recorded, properly, with no distortion or Auto-Tune. People might feel like I need it, but it’s never that. It’s always about what the songs need. Here, it’s about quality control and applying that extra attention to detail. I’m really proud of this song.” “Buss Me” “I’m on my Justin Bieber stuff here. And I really love these melodies—those slick, smooth vocals, they do something nice to you. I went so hard writing this song and putting it down right in the session.” “What’s Yours Is Mine” (feat. Shaybo) “Play this song with your other half, or love interest, with the right liquor down you, and you’ll feel this vibe. This is that grown and sexy. Shaybo and I could have gone bar-for-bar on this, as she’s such a great rapper, but this was great, too. What we put down was just right for this.” “Antigua” (feat. BackRoad Gee & M24) “My guy had the idea for these features, and it’s perfect. Backroad brings amazing hype and adds crazy words that I can’t even pronounce. He’s amazing. I especially love when the fans sing this back to me at the shows, loudly roaring it at the top of their lungs, like I’m Adele.” “Outro” “‘I love my fans. They hold me down, so they’re my anchor.’ I feel like that was a great note to end it on. I also want my fans to know that this isn’t an album, but they can expect that from me real soon.”