Pink Siifu

Pink Siifu, the stage name of Livingston Matthews, is from Birmingham, Alabama, and emerged in the mid-2010s on the US independent rap circuit. His work mixes experimental hip-hop with soul, jazz, funk, spoken word and touches of punk or noise, with vocal delivery that moves between rapping, singing and declamation depending on the track. After several shorter releases, Pink Siifu put out ensley in 2018, an album tied to the Ensley neighborhood of Birmingham, then Negro in 2020, a more abrasive project where rough rap, hardcore and sound collages meet. Gumbo'! followed in 2021 and develops a looser approach grounded in Southern groove, soul and spoken word. Alongside his solo career he leads collective projects and collaborations, notably FlySiifu's with Fly Anakin in 2020 and the duo B. Cool-Aid with producer Ahwlee. Pink Siifu moves between the underground rap scene, the beat scene and more hybrid forms, with a fluid aesthetic linking introspection, punk energy and African-American musical heritage.