Back to Square One (mixtape)

On 1 September 2022, Digga D announced the launching of his own record label Black Money Records (BMR).[1] Back to Square One is the first full-length release on the label. Digga D spoke to The Guardian about the shifting his sound away from UK drill on this project, saying "It's more money, more problems. People are getting older, the fans are changing, people like different types of music now. I don't feel like drill is for me any more. I'm still learning about Auto-Tune, how to project my voice, how to make people feel different feelings. I'm still learning that I can talk normally on a song, and I don't always have to sing. The intro is just me talking – it sounds like poetry."[2]

On 9 March 2023, Digga D released the single “Energy”. The single peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.[3][4] On 27 April, he released the remix featuring American rapper Latto.[5] On 15 June, the second single "DTF" was released with an accompanying music video.[6][7] The third single "I'm From..." was released on 29 June.[8] Digga D announced the release date of the mixtape and tracklist, and put out the fourth single "Facade" featuring Potter Payper on 10 August.[9] The fifth music video "Kindness For Weakness" was revealed the day before the mixtape was released.[10]

The Guardian said the majority of the mixtape focuses "on storytelling or cleave to the pained, Auto-Tuned trapwave subgenre – for Digga, this stylistic breadth is a sign of artistic maturity. His lyrics have broadened into new preoccupations: fame, riches, complicated relationships and mouths to feed."[2] GRM Daily said the mixtape "is both a heartfelt ode to his roots and a sincere portrayal of evolution and growth. It’s fair to say that the notorious young star has had a tumultuous past and, with this project, he paints a picture of the crossroads that he has reached, torn between maturity and introspection, and his reckless, hot-headed youth. But despite his chequered past, he has become a pioneer in UK drill. As he settles into his early 20s, Digga is building a book of wisdom with lessons learnt from all corners of his colourful life; Back To Square One is a chapter of this coming-of-age story as it unfolds."[12]