NE O - ONE (EP)

Picture Credit: @editbydawn

Newcastle rapper NE O is back with ONE, his first project in five years, a title that nods to both his name North East One and the journey he has been on since we last heard from him. Fresh off a sold out headline show and an equally rapid merch drop, he is keeping the momentum high with the release of the official video for lead single “Goat Freestyle 2.”

The video captures exactly what NE O has been building: community. Fans turned up wearing the new merch, which doubled as their ticket in, turning the shoot into a celebration of the people who have been backing him from day one.

Reflecting on the moment, NE O said: “Seeing a sea of people in the merch, before the EP was even out, was unreal. The North has needed a stronger sense of community in the rap scene for a long time, and it feels like we are finally creating that together.”

With Newcastle’s music scene enjoying national attention, from the MOBOs to Mercury Prize buzz, ONE arrives at the perfect time. Across five self written and produced tracks, mixed and mastered in Newcastle by Nifty Struggle, NE O blends raw Geordie honesty with the wider sounds shaping UK rap. At its core, the project is about family: nods to his mam and dad sit alongside reflections on growth, drive and purpose.

The EP’s only feature comes from Hull’s Chiedu Oraka, adding another Northern voice to the mix and strengthening the region’s rising wave. From bold bars to reflective tracks like “Losing Focus,” ONE showcases an artist levelling up while staying rooted in where he is from.

After a breakout 2024, including festival stages, sold out shows and a UK tour with Oraka, NE O has launched into 2025 with national radio support and standout live moments. ONE feels like the culmination of that rise, bringing everything back to the meaning behind his name: North East One.