British rapper Mastermind was raised by multi-cultural parents in Manchester, England, and began releasing music independently in 2015. After enjoying underground success with 2016's "Hungry," a collaboration with the Toronto-based rapper Robin Banks, he released his breakout single, "Wave Time," in 2019. The song became a viral sensation on platforms like Spotify and YouTube, earning millions of streams while drawing attention from several record labels. Mastermind signed with Columbia Records that same year and quickly released "Wave Time 2," a remix featuring Chip and Nafe Smallz. He continued releasing standalone singles in 2020, including "Losses" and "War," the latter of which found him partnering with fellow hip-hop artist Bandokay.
