Nino Uptown - Need For Speed (Official Video)

Nino Uptown Takes Tokyo with "Need For Speed"

Fresh off a sold-out SXSW x CLASH Festival show at London’s Village Underground and a string of headline gigs in Japan, Nino Uptown is back with a cinematic new release — “Need For Speed.”

A familiar name in the UK’s underground rap space, Nino’s been quietly carving out his lane since 2020, sharing stages with heavyweights like M Huncho, Nafe Smallz, and WeWantWraiths. With previous nods from Complex UK, Hypebeast, BBC Radio 1Xtra, and Charlie Sloth, he’s no stranger to critical praise — and it’s clear why.

“Need For Speed” offers an introspective look at survival, solitude, and self-growth. Produced by GRN, Eight8, and KHVN, the track is raw yet polished, capturing the emotional weight behind Nino’s journey. The video? Shot in Tokyo in just three days, it’s a visual love letter to the city’s electric, inner-city life — directed by long-time collaborator Harry Tatem.

Explaining his choice to film abroad, Nino said, “Every UK artist has done every aesthetic possible in London. We wanted to switch it up.” And that’s exactly what he’s done.

From his breakout 2021 single "Lose Me" (17M+ streams) to this latest release, Nino Uptown continues to push creative boundaries — and the momentum isn’t slowing any time soon.