Yussef Dayes to headline new Summer Dayes Festival in South London
Celebrating homegrown talent, Yussef Dayes curates a festival featuring Masego, Greentea Peng, and more, promising a day of diverse music and culture.
Hip Hop
Normski: 'Being Black has been my meal ticket in life'
As hip-hop celebrates half a century, Normski's photographs offer a time capsule of its indelible impact on the UK's cultural tapestry.
26 photos of Black British music tease upcoming V&A exhibition
The V&A East Museum has announced its maiden exhibition, The Music Is Black: A British Story, aiming to spotlight the influence of Black British music on both UK and global culture.
Listen to new alt-rock single from Kevin Abstract, 'Running Out'
Kevin Abstract is back, this time venturing into alternative rock with his latest single, 'Running Out.'
whynow is the time to listen to… TS Lagga
We speak to emerging rapper TS Lagga about education, how to define success and why he decided to open his GCSE results on stage at Reading and Leeds Festival.
Protea review | Kota the Friend dances into summer
★★★☆☆
With Protea, Kota the Friend is back with an upbeat rap album that sounds as good as it feels, but lacks the consistency or focus to elevate it beyond ‘vibes’.
Split Decision review | Dave and Central Cee spar with aplomb in heavyweight matchup
★★★★☆
Dave and Central Cee’s surprise collaborative EP Split Decision demonstrates the pair’s penmanship, with puns on cars, clothes, women and footballers seamlessly interspersed with an impressive blend of swagger and introspection.
Metro Boomin Presents Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse review | Dazzling, animated project with big-swinging names
★★★★☆
Metro Boomin enlists some of the biggest names in music to create a dazzling 13-song album as the soundtrack for the new movie, Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse.
Pistolz & Pearlz review | Almost drunk karaoke from Kodak Black
★☆☆☆☆
Kodak Black’s Pistolz & Pearlz is likely to be the Florida rapper’s final album with Atlantic Records, but he seems as uninterested making the album as I am listening to it.
Jackman review | Jack Harlow's superhero isn't necessarily super, but he is human
★★★☆☆ Short and sweet, Jack Harlow’s new album, Jackman won’t set the world on fire, but sees the Kentucky native find his playful, braggadocious groove again, while still making room for plenty of introspection.
God Save The Streets review | Avelino's belated debut has moments, but is underwhelming
★★★☆☆ On his long-awaited, highly-touted debut album God Save The Streets, Avelino fails to reach the heights he thinks he does.
The Estate Sale review | A definitive end to the Call Me If You Get Lost era
★★★★☆ Tyler, The Creator has expanded on 2021’s Call Me If You Get Lost with the release of The Estate Sale - an inconsistent eight track release that is still a whole lot more than some b-side throwaways.
Benny Sings: ‘I've yearned my whole life, it's deep within me’
A pioneer of hip-hop-laden bedroom pop and sunny 70s-inspired beats, we speak to Benny Sings as he returns with his eighth album, Young Hearts.
Since I Have A Lover review | 6LACK takes a step sideways, not forwards
★★★☆☆ 6LACK is back with his third studio album, Since I Have A Lover, a typically polished, contemplative record, but sorely lacking in bite. Read our 6LACK Since I Have A Lover review below.
David Jolicoeur of De La Soul dies at 54
David Jolicoeur, one of the founding members of the hip-hop trio De La Soul, has passed away at the age of 54.
Kojey Radical at XOYO review | Air of optimism translates on stage
★★★★☆
With Kojey Radical securing a nomination for Best New Artist at this year’s BRITs, his ascent to mainstream stardom is nearly complete. His performance at Shoreditch’s XOYO on Friday proves this conversation is one that Kojey himself is simultaneously humbled and deserving of being a part of.
Lil Yachty - Let's Start Here review | Lil Pink Floydy flies high
★★★★★ Moving into alternative and most notably classic rock, on 'Let's Start Here' Lil Yachty not only succeeds in the most difficult of transitions, but preserves his idiosyncratic, carefree style when doing so
slowthai announces new album 'UGLY'
slowthai has announced his new album, UGLY - standing for “U Gotta Love Yourself”. It will be the Northampton native’s third album when it drops on March 3.
To What End review | A mixed bag from Oddisee
★★★☆☆
The prodigiously talented rapper and producer Oddisee returns with To What End. It’s impressive, rich and intelligent, but sometimes could heed the advice that less is more.
A$AP Rocky drops Angels Pt.2 as his discography turns 10
A$AP Rocky‘s debut studio album, Long.Live.ASAP, recently turned 10 years old. To celebrate the occasion, he’s dropped a new music video to ‘Angels’.
Quavo drops new song remembering Takeoff
Quavo has released a new song, “WITHOUT YOU” - a tribute to his nephew and Migos bandmate Takeoff, who was shot and killed last November.
De La Soul’s back catalogue to finally be made available for streaming
The back catalogue for De La Soul will finally be made available for streaming from 3 March.
Herbert Review | Ab-Soul returns to reality
★★★★☆
It’s been six years since Ab-Soul last dropped an album. The TDE star caps a successful year for the record label with a vulnerable, pained offering in Herbert, which sees him return to reality as well as music.
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie review | Me vs. Myself
On Me vs. Myself, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie drops a 21 track project that struggles to flow and never really takes off.
Little Simz announces new album 'NO THANK YOU'
With praise still pouring in for Little Simz's 2021 record, Sometimes I Might Be An Introvert, the rapper has announced a follow up: NO THANK YOU.
Metro Boomin Heroes & Villains review | Star producer delivers again
★★★☆☆ Whilst not all of the album’s ideas land, Metro Boomin utilises his extensive contact book to create one of the better trap albums of the year.
Beyond Belief review | 38 Spesh and Harry Fraud link up
On 38 Spesh's Beyond Belief, every verse is packed to the brim with multi-syllable rhyme schemes to the point where you would guess more words rhyme than don’t.
Dave East 'Book of David' review | A formula that works
Dave East tells all on the richly packed, DJ Drama narrated Book Of David, an album that impresses throughout, but lacks the variety or experimentation to truly make it memorable.
Blueface arrested for attempted murder in Las Vegas
American rapper Blueface has been arrested for attempted murder in Las Vegas in relation to a shooting that took place on 8 October 2022, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed.
Tierra Whack arrested after bringing loaded gun to airport
Tierra Whack was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct early on Wednesday morning, after the US rapper brought a loaded gun into Philadelphia International Airport.
