Commitment to instinct and intent.

BLACKFONDUISM is not an easy album to pin down, and that appears to be the point. From the opening moments, an ultra-electronic cover of “Hollaback Girl,” Black Fondu establishes a sound built on distortion, repetition and density. The track strips the original of its pop gloss and rebuilds it through layered synths, abrasive textures and a combination of male rap vocals and processed electronic voice. His name is repeated frequently, functioning less as branding and more as a rhythmic and sonic motif. The cover grows heavier as it unfolds, stacking layers until it feels overwhelming by design.

Black Fondu, born Reggie, spent part of his childhood in Accra, Ghana, before moving to the UK. He was raised around classical music. His father played violin and regularly listened to composers such as Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff. Reggie also received formal training on violin and piano. While in school, he became interested in trap and electronic music and began teaching himself music production using Ableton. These parallel backgrounds, classical discipline and self-taught electronic experimentation, form the technical foundation of BLACKFONDUISM.

His early live experience developed gradually. After repeatedly attending shows at The Windmill in London, he was eventually offered a performance slot. His first show drew only a handful of people, but he used these early performances to test ideas and refine his sound. By playing frequently, sometimes over twenty shows in a year, he learned how to shape his live presence through volume, distortion and intensity, prioritizing impact over polish.

The album itself was completed under pressure. During the process, his laptop overheated after wax melted inside his bag, nearly wiping the project. He recovered the files via Dropbox, and the experience influenced the final stages of the album. BLACKFONDUISM was finished with a sense of urgency and approached as if it might be his last opportunity to fully express his inner world.

“im not sleeping” is the most emotionally direct track on the album. It addresses insomnia, anxiety and self-reflection. Compared to the rest of the album, it is more restrained, with a tone of vulnerability combined with the energy of a modern rapper and the polish of hyperpop artistry. In contrast, “C00N V2” is confrontational and chaotic. It is noted to address the fetishization of African culture in Europe while balancing aggression with moments of irony (via The Line of Best Fit).

Stylistically, BLACKFONDUISM moves through hyperpop, grime, glitch, noise and faster drill-influenced rhythms. The final three tracks grow increasingly intense, pushing the album toward its most abrasive moments while remaining cohesive. The music often feels like it is spinning out, then locking back into sync just in time.

As experimental electronic music continues to expand, Black Fondu stands out for his commitment to instinct and intent. BLACKFONDUISM does not chase trends. It documents a process, a mindset and a sound still in motion.