New heater from Bristol’s Billy Whizz and master of multisyllabic rhymey phrases; the one they call G00SE. ‘Dissolve The Crown’ is the second single from Billy Whizz’s upcoming project And Hell For The Company.
Some new instrumental goodness from everybody’s least favourite aquatic bird. While the fiercely territorial and unnecessarily noisy common G00SE is undeniably an inferior feathered creature to even the most shit swan, it turns out that he is surprisingly good at making trip hop instrumentals. Think Thievery Corporation meets early RJD2 but made in a crudely constructed nest made of sticks and bird poo in the middle of a large pond somewhere in Bristol. Essential Listening.
Apparently there’s a whole album of this avian crack coming soon. Watch out for it from the good people at In The Balance Records.
The one named G00SE…
– Superb with the multi-syllabics.
– A dab hand at production too it appears.
– Pretty bollocks at lining up lip syncing to a video.
– Known to honk loudly at trespassers.
New track ‘Presidential Suite’ sees our avian friend in more lyrically serious territory than usual, with sombre topic matter and lowkey beat. Combination of the piano line and lyrics detailing the depths of isolation feels vaguely reminiscent of early Atmosphere. We dig it.
Check out this alcohol fuelled caper shot by our own Dfacer featuring Chillman & G00SE on a sozzled rampage around Bristol. ‘Booze’ dropped today on In The Balance and is the second single taken from the upcoming LP from the two MCs.
Lord knows it’s taken its time getting here, but summer is about to get hectic. Festival season has arrived and that’s sick, but huge weekenders in a field often involve spunking half a month’s wages in 3 days and completely losing one’s mind. So, in addition to all that goodness, we’re endeavouring in 2019 to smash out some recommendations for the nicest and hypest events this summer that the discerning fan of booms, baps and flows can attend without questioning reality for a week and needing to take out a payday loan afterwards.
Enter St Paul’s Carnival… While London cousin Notting Hill may claim boasting rights as the biggest street party in Europe, with a seismic million attendees, St Paul’s packs a unique punch. First off, 100,000 people attending is not a number to be sniffed at. Anyone who’s ever had the time of their life at an intimate rave and also experienced losing the fam in a crush of bodies at Notting hill will understand that at some point the relationship between how many people are in a place and how epic it is, becomes negligible. Secondly, if you are a hip hop fan, St Paul’s is definitely the one for you.
At a time when hip hop nights in the capital are dwindling, victim to the unstoppable united forces of grime, drill and UK rap, hip hop is experiencing a renaissance in almost every other cultural hub across the country. It’d be hard to name a city where that was more true than Bristol. The presence that the genre has at this year’s event is testament to how much hip hop is a part of the city’s cultural heartbeat in 2019.
Pivotal in curarting the acts to grace the Soundsystem that shouts the loudest on this year’s Windrush/Ujima Stage at the St Paul’s Learning centre is Ujima radio’s Krazy. As a Longstanding champion of all things hip hop in Bristol, it’s no surprise that the line-up he’s put together is expertly packed with talent that reps the genre hard.
With assorted reggae influenced vibes dominating the afternoon, the Bristol Rising Stars set at 5.25pm serves up the first taste of hip hop in the form of High Breed, Komposa and The Scribes. Right after at 6.30pm Harts Hozè takes the stage with bars from the trap-side.
From here on in things get pretty relentlessly sick…
AFT Raps signing Rogue and Relly, dropped an album, Let Them Know, last year that was all killer. Barsman Relly may be at the start of building his discography but at the core of his lyricism pulses an old school mastery of flow that makes him a rare breed in 2019. Catch him at 6.50pm.
A look through the acts this year, reveal AFT extended family to be there in force. Billy Whizz seems to be popping up wherever we look lately. We’ve also recommended his takeover as essential scheduling in our hip hop guide to Nozstock recently. His 7pm set at carnival might be a bit shorter but that hasn’t stopped the DJ rolling deep with an impressive line of guests MCs including G00SE and Jinxsta plus fellow AFT signings Press1, & Twizzy. Blacksmith is also allegedly due to perform on the World Dance Stage lending further hip hop hype to the label, in addition to more bass driven appearances to be found elsewhere courtesy of AFT’s more ravey wing.
Another exceptional talent from Bris on the verge of gaining deserved recognition, Wish Master will be rocking over boom bap rhythms between 7.30 and 7.45pm. Visual releases/singles from Wish this year have all been strong and newest LP Boom Bap to the Future is fire.
Silly rumours earlier in the year that maybe Bristol kings Split Prophets had finished have been firmly dispelled from all camps. Nonetheless, with members making impressive solo moves, starting labels and the like, catching them all in the same spot nowadays is more of a rarity. Which makes catching them shutting down the Windrush stage at 7.45pm on Saturday all the more essential.
After a quiet spell for the last few years in terms of releases, Bristol’s own soundman-supreme Buggsy has resurfaced and announced a tonne of new material. 3 separate projects soon to come include a grime project and the third and final instalment of the MCs widely renowned Great Escape releases. With the spirit of Soundsystem culture at the centre of Buggsy’s music and St Paul’s being home ground for the rapid-fire lyricist, his performance at 8.30pm is guaranteed to be something special.
What else…
(Yes ukhh.com keeps things strictly hip hop but the goodness below is also unmissable)
The Message: The theme of this year’s carnival is ‘Our Journey’ and has honouring the Windrush generation at its centre.
The Procession: A 1,000 people strong movement of dance, costume and mobile soundsystems rolling from 12:00 start to 17:00
The Food: Caribbean flavours keeping things suitably hot as well as other tastes and aromas from all over the world.
Eclectic sounds: Beyond the mountain of fuel for hip hop fans this year, there is an ocean of music from across the globe. Caribbean sounds and afrobeat in abundance as well as performances from some of Bristol’s biggest names in grime and drum n bass.
The After Parties: They’re all over the place, with (amongst others) Trinity Centre, Lakota, Malcolm X Centre and The Moon Club all hosting heavy line ups.
Like many of the best new festivals in Britain today, Nozstock grew from humble beginnings. Initially founded as a rag-tag gathering for the Nosworthy family and their friends, the event has evolved into a major player in the UK festival calendar. Now in its 21st (official) year, Nozstock has played host to major acts like De La Soul, the Buzzcocks and The Proclaimers. And even though it’s now grown to a 5000 person capacity, the festival still rocks the homegrown, down-to-earth appeal.
The festival now boasts nine stages, covering everything from DnB legends like DJ Zinc to an all-female prog Morris dancing outfit (yes, that’s a thing). Hip hop heads, in particular, are spoiled for choice. From major UK figures to rising stars, this year’s lineup is beyond sick.
But we know how difficult it can be staying on schedule at a festival, especially after several pints. That’s why we’ve put together a complete guide to the hip hop acts gracing the stages at Nosworthy Farm this year. You’re welcome!
Everyone’s favourite reprobate, Jam Baxter comes to the Hidden Valley this year to simultaneously enthral and repulse anyone caught in his crossfire. The rapper has a well-earned reputation for raucous live shows and his Garden Stage set promises to be no exception. You’ve been warned!
Fellow Dead Player, Dabbla will also grace the Garden Stage. To say we’re hyped about this set would be a gross understatement. Asides from dropping one of the best albums of last year, Dabbla has been tearing up festivals from Iceland to Australia. Expect rapid-fire bars with surgical precision and a healthy dose of toilet humour.
Few artists can hold claim to cult status in the UK scene after dropping just one album, but then few people have done as much for hip hop as Skinnyman. One of the illest rappers to grace any festival lineup, Skinnyman should be a priority for any hip hop head.
Can’t decide between hip hop or drum n bass? Get yourself along to Inja’s set for a dose of both. The outspoken rapper, poet and activist has worked with everyone from Delegates of Culture to Task Force to Logistics. Expect breakneck bars spat over dirty basslines and old-skool jungle beats.
Emcee all-rounder Joe Burn will join long-time DJ and producer (and his actual Godfather) Skitz on the Garden Stage for the best sound system infused hip hop on Friday. A match made in hip hop heaven, expect grimy bars and basslines as wobbly as a jellyfish on ketamin.
No strangers to the Valley, the ultimate Nozstock hip hop roster wouldn’t quite be complete without these delinquents. Originally formed round the corner in Hereford, the crew of MCs consisting of Chillman, Entra-P, G00SE and Coosie are sure to draw a crowd. Last year they demolished a Garden Stage set and shot the below video for ‘Takin’ Over’ onsite.
And a few hollas more…
As if that weren’t enough, there’s a whole bunch of artists taking to stages across Nozstock rocking their own hip hop infused sound. Style straddling DJ and the man behind Suspect Packages Disorda will be gracing the decks. For something more wordy, Natty Speaks will be popping up literally all over the place and Lyrix Organix will be in full effect purveying poetry with punch. Whether it’s the face-melting proto-punk, breakbeat and grime mix of Pengshui, or the dubby stylings of Bristol lyricist Gardna with neo-roots reggae Eva Lazarus, you’ll find hints of hip hop in every corner of Nosworthy Farm.
Oh yeah and Soul II Soul are playing on the main stage…
While the list of acts above are definitely something to shout about, Nozstock is notorious for playing host to barn-storming (literally on some stages) takeovers spanning every corner of a bass driven universe. So this guide wouldn’t be complete without our selection of the essentials for the discerning hip hop fan…
UKHH
Of course, we might be slightly biased but we’d argue the UKHH Friday takeover of the Bullpen should be top of the list for anyone craving their fix of sick hip hop. This year, we’re proud to be playing host to some of the most exciting underground acts in the UK today.
Scene veteran Brotherman will be headlining, delivering culturally conscious lyricism set to the laid back beats of his trademark boom-bap sound. Riding the momentum from last year’s Huckleberry EP, the London-Caribbean emcee is primed to take off this year and his Bullpen show could be the launchpad.
Warming things up, relentlessly ridiculous emcee George Bucks will team up with Mick Swagger on the decks (and additional mic duties) to spit some of the dopest bars of the festival. The two rappers have been dropping bangers all year (cop our take on Swagger’s debut Villianaire here) and their set promises to kickstart your Friday.
For the rotten beef at the centre of this poisonous sandwich… Kent-based crew Backward Sun occupy the middle of the takeover with their brand of down and dirty boom bap. Expect debauchery on a scale usually reserved for Motley Crüe after-shows and Roman orgies.
Billy Whizz & Friends
Sometimes fate just does you a solid. For hip hop heads at Nozstock on Friday, one such serendipitous turn of events comes when our takeover finishes in the Bullpen. And you have to go absolutely nowhere!
To say that pillar of the Bristol scene, Billy Whizz, has outdone himself with the array of talent he’s bringing with him is definitely an understatement.
AFT Raps labelmates deservedly have a dominating presence. Press1, Twizzy and Ambush Tactics will all be flying the flag, as well as an appearance from style hopping AFT head-honcho Carasel (also playing his own probably more DnB orientated set later in the festival).
Add in performances from In The Balance signing and Verbal Highz angry-bird G00SE, Jinxta JX and rising barsman Wishmaster and this onslaught of Bristol based beats and bars is guaranteed gold.
And a Few More Hollas More…
If we were going to mention all the DnB Takeovers here also featuring hazardously ill spitters, this article might double in size. For those hungry for more hip hop influenced sounds though, Played Out Records should be bringing them in abundance. Details on who CW Jones will be bringing to the stage as part of his Bone Dry Records takeover have eluded us but it would be safe to expect something that pushes the musical boundaries of hip hop. Finally masters of breaks and dangerously funky basslines, Ghetto Funk Allstars, will no doubt have a piff selection of rap stylings permeating their set.
If that lineup doesn’t get your hip hop senses tingling like Michael Gove’s nostrils, we don’t know what will. On top of all this, there are hundreds of other acts scheduled to perform at Nozstock 2019. Reggae, punk, soul, techno, electronica, DnB and every other genre in between; whatever your bag, it’s safe to say Nozstock has it covered.
So come join us getting wobbly to our top picks, shooting some exclusive footage and just basking in the general anarchy that is Nozstock.
Nozstock takes place in Hereford’s Hidden Valley from Thursday, 18 July to Sunday, 21 July. Tickets are almost sold out, but you can still grab yours here.
So much love for this one from In The Balance labelmates Chillman and G00SE! With something about the instrumental and flow delivery that’s reminiscent of Atmosphere back in their heyday and a suitably moody video from Parallel Media to boot, ‘Cold Weather’ has had us reloading all weekend. Watch out for the upcoming collab album from the 2 MCs.
Everything is the second single from Coosie‘s forthcoming album Bobadundee Flows Produced by G00SE.
Following on from his First Bus Diss Track, half man half bird, G00SE set out to further prove his hate for delayed travel by sending for the 6th time running worst airline, Ryanair. After paying the late check in fee, getting near enough strip searched at Security and kicked out of the worst bar we’ve ever visited (Stansted duty free) G00SE set off for pastures greener to record his highly anticipated Ryanair Diss Track.
Exclusive to UKHH… The world’s first diss track to an entire bus company shot on their own property. First Bus are yet to respond.
Have you been wronged by a company? Don’t want to write a strongly worded email? Get in touch with UKHH or the In The Balance MC himself and G00SE will write and record a diss track and film it on their property.
Written and produced by G00SE. Video filmed by Steven Stone and edited by Chillman.
