The rap scene in the UK is habitually under appreciated. Hard working artists become buried underneath a mountain of artists of the Big Shaq and otherwise memetic ilk. However, there are proverbial diamonds in the dirt that get glossed over everyday. Lets examine a few.
1) JJ
Previously known as Jesse James Solomon, JJ is an emotive artist known for his nonchalant, serene delivery of profound lyrics. Popular songs like ‘The Ride Home’ and ‘Barriers’ accommodate laid back, touching instrumentals alongside lyricism rife with feelings of nostalgia and anguish. Melancholic anthems aren’t the only thing JJ does well, however, with tracks such as ‘Son of the Ends’ and ‘Goat Talk’ following a much darker, aggressive notion. Heavy, sinister beats carry JJ’s hostile vocals.
2) Flohio
When discussing overlooked artists, females tend to be particularly overlooked. Despite this, vocalist Flohio stands to break the mold and swim against the flow. With an arsenal of fierce, kinetic beats the south London rapper unloads a full clip, with swift, combative bars to follow. From working on tracks with a range of big name producers like Clams Casino and Modeselektor, to performing her track ‘Bands’ on the notorious Colors show, Flohio has already hit a vast collection of milestones with more to come in the near future.
3) ZERODAY
If something darker and more sinister is palletable, then look no further than ZERODAY. Ominous, eerie atmospheres combine with a malicious flow and dark wordplay to great effect. The artist’s unnerving aura lurks around the corner on every track, leaving one shivering but instantly frantic to hear the next. Despite only having a handful of songs out, the rapper has already built up a following over the past year of releases, with his tracks hitting up to 60k plays on Soundcloud. One of the most low-key on this list, ZERODAY is the perhaps most deserving of growth.
4) Milkavelli
Most fans of the underground scene will already know Milkavelli as a familiar figure, yet despite this his music still remains criminally overlooked. Closely tied in with acts such as Lil Peep, Bexey or even heavyweights Skepta and A$ap Mob, Milkavelli goes way back in the UK hip hop scene, functioning in various collectives such as the Mcabre Brothers, Cult Mountain and Children of the Damned. His 2017 project ‘Cult Member’ may be his only full length project under the current Moniker, but his versatile approach from track to track prove the artist has a deluge of talent under his belt. From snoozy, placid ‘ZZZ’ to mosh pit inducing tracks like ‘Lock and Load’ the London rapper has a lot to offer, leaving us hoping 2019 means even more is in store.
5) Slowthai
One of the most well known on this list, Slowthai has been commanding attention in the UK scene in the past year, and this appears to only be the beginning. The Northampton rapper shatters the modern UK rap formality of standing in a car park looking angry, with an angsty image and sound backing him up. Instead, Slowthai opts to speak from the heart regardless of protocol, tackling subjects from British culture and beyond utilizing a rather cunning verbal skill set. Slowthai is consistently setting himself apart, with his own sound kicking down the door. From cloudy, atmospheric ‘T N Biscuits,’ light-hearted, touching ballad ‘Ladies’ or heavily punk inspired ‘Doorman’ in collaboration with Mura Masa, Slowthai has what you need. Whether you like it or not, he’s a name you’re going to be hearing a lot more of in the future.