In just a few years, Jim Legxacy has gone from tough beginnings to becoming one of the most talked-about UK music talents. His own words describe his journey on the ambitious 2025 mixtape Black British Music: “from poverty to pop star.”
Critics praised the project as “unmissable” and “a brilliant snapshot of black British culture,” calling it a landmark moment for UK music. The 25-year-old now ranks second on BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2026 list, which highlights the most exciting new talent.
Jack Saunders of Radio 1 says, “Jim has a wide lens on love and relationships. He talks about things you might overlook on the street, but he delivers them with pinpoint precision.”
Music as Healing
Legxacy, born James Olaloye in Lewisham to Nigerian immigrant parents, is known for his originality and versatility. Public appearances are rare, partly due to personal struggles during the making of Black British Music. While producing the mixtape, his mother suffered two strokes, his brother faced psychosis treatment, and his younger sister passed away from sickle cell anaemia.
In interviews, he explained that he didn’t feel ready to speak about these experiences. Instead, he let the music convey his emotions, saying to Rolling Stone, “When I start creating, I feel like Google Translate. I can write something that connects to myself.”
The mixtape blends light and darkness, often reflecting grief alongside resilience. On the track 3x, he confesses the pain of losing his sister while finding comfort in Dave’s verse: “Jim, you already did your sister proud.”
