Trap artists have dominated the charts for over a decade. The genre’s influence on the world’s music industry is showing no sign of stopping. With its origins in the hip-hop culture of the South of the USA, trap music has a strong base in Atlanta, Georgia. Musically, trap is characterised by dark and relatively minimal … Read more
No one can replace Mac Miller. But if you’re a fan of Mac Miller’s music, then this list of artists like Mac Miller will guide you to some similar artists whose work you will enjoy. Mac Miller was a musician whose sound developed significantly over his career. This list focuses on rappers who share the … Read more
Since his untimely death in 2018, Mac Miller has gone down in history as one of the great rappers of our generation. In his relatively short career, Mac’s music developed significantly from the ‘frat rap’ days of K.I.D.S (201) to the tender and introspective Circles (2020). This list provides an overview of the best Mac … Read more
The emergence of grime is one of the most significant developments in twenty-first century British music. Growing out of pirate radio and urban culture in London in the early 00s, grime builds on the sounds of UK garage. It is characterised by its aggressive sonics, and gritty rap lyrics. This article highlights some of the … Read more
Tyler, The Creator is a rapper, songwriter, and producer who burst onto the music scene as the founder and frontman of the alternative hip-hop collective Odd Future. He released his debut solo album, Goblin, in 2011 to both critical and commercial success. Tyler’s abrasive lyrics and chaotic production style has been praised by some as … Read more
Since its beginnings in 1970s New York, hip-hop has grown to become one of the most listened-to and most pervasive music genres in the world. Many of the world’s most famous musicians today are hip-hop artists, and many others have been influenced by hip-hop and rap in one way or another. Hip-hop Facts This list … Read more
Mac Miller’s reputation as an artist has grown significantly since his untimely death in 2018. From his early ‘frat rap’ days to the sophisticated emo rap of his later releases, Miller’s music developed rapidly as he matured as an artist..His career culminated with the release of the outstanding Swimming (2018) and the post-humously released Circles … Read more
Manchester is home to a large number of the UK’s best rappers. With its own distinctive sound, and a rapidly growing list of rappers to its name, Manchester is undoubtedly the rap capital of the north of England. Let’s dive in and discover Manchester’s best rappers. Children of Zeus Stradling hip-hop and neo-soul, Children of … Read more
In hip-hop and related music genres, it’s common to refer to ‘bars’ or ‘spitting bars.’ So what is a bar in rap? A bar in rap and hip-hop is a unit of measurement that means 4 crotchets (or 4 single beats) worth of lyrics. However, bars can also refer more generally to a rapper’s lyrics. … Read more
Emerging from Chicago in the early 2010s before spreading to the UK, drill is a form of hip-hop closely associated with trap music in the US, and grime in the UK. Characterised by dark and provocative rap bars as well as ominous beats, drill music has been steadily growing in popularity and seeping into the … Read more
Regrets is the final single from Brooklyn-based Kevin Holliday’s forthcoming OMNI EP. Exploring the potentiality and the perils of sinking into a relationship, the bouncy funk-inflected track and popping visuals offset the sense of uncertainty and risk that lies beneath the surface of the lyrics. Produced by Bird Language, a slow bass-heavy groove, and funk … Read more
Love’s A Joke, I’m The Butt Of It’ is a charmingly naive R&B anthem from emerging Manchester artist Jamaal Monarch. Walking a fine line between sensitivity and bravado, Monarch reflects on love and coming-of-age during lockdown. The lyrics flit between the coy, the humorous, and even the childish, ultimately landing on Monarch’s self-affirming chorus, ‘you … Read more
Dur Brain, Dr Syntax, and Binbags capture the spirit of the age in the cynical and lethargic retraining. Uncovering everyday frustrations and probing broader political paradigms, the three UK rappers explore the pandemic zeitgeist with a comical touch. The sharpness of the verses offsets the sluggish, psychedelic boom-bap beats, produced by Osirus. This is satirical … Read more
Yusuf Yellow takes things at his own pace. It hasn’t hindered his progress. With his debut album, The Yellow Tape, the Leeds-based hip-hop artist grabbed attention with his curiously gentle flows, and the candid vulnerability of his lyrics. Marching to the beat of his own drum, the young artist has resonated with an audience that’s … Read more
In Conversation With… Otis Mensah @otismensah In the over-saturated internet world, it can feel like everyone has a product to sell, a project to promote, and a message to preach. It can be hard to find the truly good art, when everything is packaged in such a glitzy manner, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed … Read more
In ConversationWith…Otis Mensah @otismensah With mystical allure, a lavish sound pallet, and an intriguing blend of creative influences, A Paranoid King melds folkloric tradition with contemporary folk art forms. I often gravitate towards blurring regionality and geography in the internet’s melting pot, but A Paranoid King makes a compelling case for connecting to local and … Read more
In Conversation With… Otis Mensah @otismensah As of late, I’ve been thinking about the constant that sees itself repeated in art I love. I wanted to identify the specific elements that tend to surface in the creative work of artists I gravitate towards, and how that intangible quality transcends genre. What I discovered was my … Read more
Poet and saxophonist Seigfried Komidashi collaborates with Sheffield-based producer Zillch on his new EP Sagittarius Rising, combining jazz samples with lo-fi, experimental production, elements of noise, and spoken word. Bold, meandering, and at times abrasive, Komidashi’s low-energy vocal murmurs combined with unpredictable and at times lopsided production makes for a listening experience that is at … Read more
Everyone, at one point or another during lockdown, has felt they’re going a bit crazy. And while some of us are getting sick of ‘lockdown chat,’ there’s no denying that lockdown has had a huge impact on all of our lives. The latest single from Tee Peters & Mensing explores feelings of claustrophobia and the … Read more
Producers all over the internet have been churning out lofi hip-hop, chill-hop beats, and the like at a dizzying pace. On the surface, Manchester’s glue70 may seem like one of many in this saturated genre. But a closer listen reveals a depth, integrity, and timelessness to his new 2070 album. Make no mistake – glue70’s … Read more
It’s harder than ever to stand out from the noise. And AnansiKwam is under no illusions about it. One of the masthead artists for the recently born Switch Hustle Records, AnansiKwam talks openly about the challenges of balancing realism and ambition. But there’s one thing he has in his favour. From the outset, he’s doing … Read more
The debut mini-album from Yusuf Yellow shows bags of character, individuality, and depth. Characterised by slow and steady flows, moody hip-hop grooves, and unashamedly introspective lyrics, the record’s subdued ‘nighttime’ atmosphere is exceptionally well-realised – something rarely achieved in a debut record. With excellent use of guest vocals from LPJ and Jackie Moonbather, the short … Read more
The debut EP from Ray Wills presents a mellow, meandering voyage around the 20-year old artist and producer’s mind. With spacious production, steady trap beats, and lilting melodic flows, 5010 is an accomplished debut from the London artist. Growing up in the UK with family in the Canada and US, the record offers a British … Read more
One of the UK’s most exciting hip-hop artists, Otis Mensah pushes the envelope with every release. His new EP, Rap Poetics, is as surprising and challenging as ever, developing the conceptualism, intelligence, and artistry that we’ve come to expect from the rapper and Poet Laureate of Sheffield. The EP explores rap as an intellectual art-form … Read more
