Rak-Su

Rak-Su emerged as a significant cultural anomaly in the UK music landscape by winning the fourteenth series of The X Factor in 2017. Unlike previous winners, they were the first male group to take the title and, more importantly, the first to do so primarily performing original material.

This shift signaled a change in the talent-show format toward artist-led identity. Their sound is a sophisticated intersection of contemporary R&B, dance-pop, and Caribbean-influenced rhythms, specifically reggaeton and Afrobeats. Based in Watford, the group (originally a four-piece consisting of Ashley Fongho, Jamaal Shurland, Myles Stephenson, and Mustafa Rahimtulla) leveraged their chemistry to create a 'vibe-heavy' aesthetic that resonated with Gen Z and Millennial audiences. Critically, they are noted for their ability to blend traditional boyband harmonies with the rhythmic sensibilities of the UK urban scene. Despite the departure of Rahimtulla in 2020, the group has maintained a presence through independent releases and mixtapes, pivoting from major-label polish to a more autonomous, genre-fluid creative process.