SINGAPORE’S MOST STYLISH RAPPER: MEAN

Who he is: The 28-year-old Mean aka The Dapper Rapper (real name Nur Ahmad Muhaimin) is our answer to American rapper A$AP Rocky.

Why know him: One look at Mean’s Instagram feed and the comparison (fashion wise at least) to A$AP Rocky is clear. Like A$AP, the rap talent comfortably straddles both the hip-hop and fashion scene with ease. He’s obsessed with Raf Simons (he wears Raf when he performs), collects Loewe by Jonathan Anderson, “loves Dries Van Noten”, and cites Craig Green as his latest go-to designer. But he’s more than just a glorified clotheshorse. His third and latest work is the fivetrack EP By Any Means (geddit?). The track Trollin, in particular, is Mean’s answer to naysayers – and a spot-on rhyme tackling hater culture. Props too for the stylized music video (shot and directed in Sydney by Singapore-born, Sydney-based creative director Henry Ng), gueststarring Melburnian rapper Judo, with Mean decked out in threads by Gucci, Dior and Valentino. With multiple gigs under his belt (GastroBeats at the iLight Marina Bay Festival and 100 Festival), plus collaborations with brands such as Loewe and Fred Perry, it’s clear that the rapper is one of Singapore’s fastest rising music (and style) talents.

What’s next: Watch for him at the Mosaic Music Series in November. Also on the cards, a flash, new music video and a second full-length album.