Blue Lab Beats – Contemporary Jazz and Hip-Hop Collective

Blue Lab Beats is a London-based musical duo known for blending contemporary jazz with hip-hop, soul, and Afro-diasporic influences.

Formed by producer NK-OK (Namali Kwaten) and multi-instrumentalist Mr DM (David Mrakpor), the project emerged from the vibrant London jazz scene that revitalized the genre in the late 2010s. Their music combines groove-driven production with improvisational sensibilities, reflecting the cross-genre creativity of the city’s underground music culture.

Their album Motherland Journey represents their most ambitious work to date, bringing together collaborations with artists from across the global jazz and soul community while maintaining a strong rhythmic identity rooted in hip-hop production.

By merging beat culture with live instrumentation, Blue Lab Beats have become an influential force in the evolution of contemporary jazz.