Music
“An Asian rapper? It feels like an impossible reality”: Jianbo on doing it for the family
East x South East — As the pandemic drove a wave of ESEA xenophobia, Jianbo realised that he couldn’t pretend to be anything other than himself. Zing Tsjeng sits down with the South London MC – vanguard of a burgeoning creative movement.
Written by: Zing Tsjeng
Tension and togetherness at a rare Syrian hip-hop open mic night
Latakia levels — After half a century under a bloody dictatorship, Syria has endured massacres on an unprecedented scale in recent times, fuelled by sectarian conflict. In the port city of Latakia, Haydar Daoud and his friends spend their days making rap music, an art form mostly misunderstood by Syrians, yet an essential therapy for disenchanted youth.
Written by: Aubin Eymard
Together for Palestine was a celebration of solidarity, art and life
Unity and protest — Part gig, gallery, stage show, poetry reading and demonstration, Together for Palestine felt like a unique beacon of hope and solidarity, even if the bigger picture remains horrific.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Kojey Radical will never look down
More than a rapper — From his days skating around East London and charming local grassroots venues, the multitalented emcee, poet, singer and visual artist has emerged as a one-of-one creative force and storyteller. On his latest album Don’t Look Down, he continues to lay his own path.
Written by: Joseph ‘JP’ Patterson
In Nottingham, punk’s UK revival rumbles
Grassroots grinding — The city has a rich history of creative resistance, and now a new wave of noise is emerging. From DIY recording studios to impromptu skatepark gigs, Hannah Bentley travels to the east Midlands to meet the artists keeping rebellion alive – and loud.
Written by: Hannah Bentley
Ravers are swapping dancefloors for chessboards
Knight to d-floor — As traditional club spaces come under threat, electronic music lovers are seeking out alternative ways to enjoy rolling grooves and breaks. Now, a new type of club, where chess matches are soundtracked by DJ sets and club beats, appears to be their next move.
Written by: Bella Koopman
Graham Sayle opens up
Life is hardcore — The High Vis frontman has battled demons that would flatten most – and barely broken a sweat. We sit down with the scene veteran to talk about channeling raw emotion and lived experience into his music, navigating fame and finding peace in a pit full of punks.
Written by: Tracy Kawalik
Analogue Appreciation: Powerplant
Heat — In an ever more digital, online world, we ask our favourite artists about their most cherished pieces of physical culture. Today, it’s synth-punk pioneers Powerplant.
Written by: Theo Zhykharyev
Huck 82: The Music Issue is here
Give Me Space — Introducing our latest music themed issue, covered by Kojey Radical.
Written by: Josh Jones
Inside Japan’s ’90s gabber and hardcore underground
Manga Corps — A new book published by Italian hardcore artist Gabber Eleganza archives ephemera and flyers from the early days of gabber and hardcore from Tokyo and Osaka, which has gone on to have an outsized influence on popular music today.
Written by: Isaac Muk
