Introducing... Xploder - Line Of Fire EP

May sees East London rapper Xploder all set to release his new EP Line Of Fire. Already receiving support from stations like Radio 1 and Kiss, with 1Xtra's Ras Kwame hailing him as one to watch in 2011, it can't be long before he, pardon the pun, explodes into the mainstream.

Worked in the past few months with producer Rob Cass - who's previous credentials include material with The Saturdays and Estelle - Line Of Fire represents a confident step forward. New track All The Things You Said, sampling THAT Tatu track might seem bold, but it's the verses that showcase what Xploder's about best; strong, assured raps over a high-powered dub-step beat.

It's worth checking out some of his other tracks too; Don't Trust You is an H2O styled bit of bassline, quick raps and laser-like synths playing up a female vocal hit. The Funky mix is better, adding a darker, more punchy feel to the track. In contrast So True present a more glossy, chilled vibe, harking back to turn of the millennium garage - jazzy piano riffs injecting the track with a touch of real class.

Across all the tracks, you see a vast range of influences and sounds incorporated, but it's the overriding force of personality that stick with you the most. Xploder definitely has the skill to step up and join the ranks of contemporaries like Devlin and Tinchy Stryder on the airwaves.

More Xploder on YouTube. Line Of Fire is released May 9th.