Grime
DJ AG has redefined DJing. Festivals are next.
From small streams, mighty rivers flow — The London streamer has democratised an art traditionally hidden away in clubs and basements with his easy-to-access, spontaneous, open platform street performances. With AG Fest lined up for the summer, Oliver Keens speaks to him about staying humble, the importance of community, and his dream to open a care home.
Written by: Oliver Keens
The story of World Headquarters, the beating heart of Newcastle’s underground
Refuge & ruckus — Sprouting from free party roots, the nightclub institution has been an inclusive pillar of the North East’s music scene since the early ’90s. Olivia Fee dives into its long history, evolution, and ongoing importance.
Written by: Olivia Fee
Scorcher: “There was anger towards the establishment”
Hard Feelings — The grime originator joins our column on masculinity and fatherhood to catch up with his old school friend Rob Kazandjian. He talks about his relationship with his dad, raising his own children, and what he learnt from his time in prison.
Written by: Robert Kazandjian
How teaching in prisons and a new mixtape is inspiring UK rap innovator Jords
Inside tracks — Two years since releasing his sophomore album Dirt In the Diamond on the legendary Motown Records, the South London MC returns with Mixtape J – a bold, independent, 10-track statement. We caught up with him to talk about the new project, his creative process and running writing workshops in UK prisons.
Written by: Niall Smith
JayaHadADream: “A lot of us feel the world right now is dystopian”
What Made Me — In this series, we ask artists and rebels about the forces and experiences that shaped who they are. Today, it’s UK rap breakout hotshot JayaHadADream.
Written by: JayaHadADream
‘If grime is dead, I’m not a casualty:’ Novelist in conversation
The 25-year-old MC has built a career defined by artistic integrity. He talks to writer Robert Kazandjian about how he got to where he is and giving back to the South East London borough he calls home.
Written by: Robert Kazandjian
Deyah is the rising Welsh rapper forging her own path
Welcome to Care City — The winner of this year’s Welsh Music Prize speaks to Huck about overcoming hardship and finding her own sound within Wales' overlooked hip-hop scene.
Written by: Rhys Thomas
Joining the Dots: Episode Two with Hattie Collins
A Huck Podcast — Joining the Dots is a new Huck podcast. Each week DJ, filmmaker and subcultural superstar Don Letts sits down with a new guest to discuss their life and work. This week, he meets writer and journalist Hattie Collins.
Written by: Benjamin Cook/Michaael Fordham
What #AlexFromGlasto shows us about race in the UK
Black and white — After being plucked from the crowd at Glastonbury to rap alongside Dave, the teen became a national treasure – but would it have happened if he was black?
Written by: Jeffrey Boakye
‘I honestly think white music is fucking irrelevant now’
Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie — As he gears up to release a new album made up of his band’s commercial hits, the 56-year-old frontman is in a philosophical mood. We meet him to discuss addiction, austerity and why he’s fed up with white men.
Written by: Niall Flynn
Why Manga Saint Hilare is grime’s storyteller-in-chief
Outbursts from the outskirts — In his music, the London MC is rallying against homogeneity, creating a series of calls-to-arms for anyone that considers themselves an outsider. “There has to be more than just one narrative in grime,” he says.
Written by: Alex Ekong
Stormzy has made me proud to be a black Cambridge graduate
Time for change — With his scholarship, the London rapper isn’t just paying for the recipient’s tuition – he’s showing a whole generation of young, black students that Oxbridge could be an option for them.
Written by: Alex Mistlin
