His musical journey has spanned two decades across battle rap, techno, artistic residencies, a successful American band, and his critically-acclaimed 2020 release The Long Goodbye.

He started performing on local pirate radio stations and hosting his own drum’n’bass nights in his teens, before making a name in the London rap battle scene - winning at the Jumpoff, Battlescars, and Bombay Bronx competitions. His provocative solo release, Post 9/11 Blues, was banned before a viral groundswell and national news coverage forced it onto radio. That year he was selected for an artistic residency at the Southbank Centre, and for the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury (the first of five appearances at the festival). He signed to the legendary Crosstown Rebels techno label, where he released the experimental debut album, Microscope to positive reviews, and performed alongside the likes of Massive Attack and Mos Def.

Riz then joined forces with Heems, formerly of Das Racist, to form the highly impactful Swet Shop Boys, who according to the Atlantic, created “a vocabulary that has never really existed in rap music before”. They played Coachella, sold out tours across the US and Europe, and carved out a unique space at the forefront of indie rap. In a nod to their cultural footprint, protesters against Trump’s immigration ban were often heard chanting their lyrics.

2020 saw the release of his critically acclaimed solo album, The Long Goodbye via Riz’s imprint Mongrel Records, serviced by Warp. Its 9 tracks are a breakup album like no other - these songs are about being dumped by the country you call home. Riz draws from hip-hop as well as the South Asian qawali tradition, to mix rap, singing and spoken word over the hybrid sound that he and producer Redinho created as part of Swet Shop Boys.

Accompanying the album is the short film The Long Goodbye, directed by Aneil Karia. Taking us on a journey that is both intimate and devastating, the 11 minute short film is an unflinching look at what may lie ahead for us in these increasingly intolerant times. It was compared to Oscar winning Parasite in its unforgettable execution by film critic Mark Kermode, and was raised during Prime Minister’s Questions in the Houses of Parliament as required viewing for law-makers. The Long Goodbye short won Best Live Action Short at the 94th Academy Awards.