Summer Sickness 2019: A Hip Hop Guide to Nozstock
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!
The Heavy Hitters:
Jam Baxter
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!
Dabbla
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.
Skinnyman
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.
Inja
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.
Joe Burn & Skitz
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.
Verbal Highz
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…
Plus some INSANE Takeovers:
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.
Mick Swagger – ‘Villianaire’ Review
Mick Swagger’s unique style is showcased in full force on his self-produced LP release Villianaire, as his distinctively incisive vocals and complex rhyme schemes deliver punchlines with a wittiness that most battle rappers aspire to- such as “fuck around and catch a bullet like Penn & Teller” or “call me Pill Cosby, spike my own drink probably”. Moreover, Mick’s skills as a producer really shine through as Villianaire takes us through an impressive array of soundscapes, spanning the laid-back and self-proclaimed “ignorant shit” on ‘Corruption & Filth’ to the layered rhythms of ‘Hulk Hogan’. This is assisted in no small part by the spectacular cast of features on the release: where New York rapper Alpha Memphis brings decidedly bombastic vocals to accompany Mick on ‘That’s About It’, Connie Bond is given free rein on the closing track ‘Starshine’, with Mick’s production bringing a trip hop vibe that would feel entirely at home among the discography of Portishead or Radiohead’s later releases.
Opening track ‘Call Me’ is equally impactful, stringing together triumphant horns and an uplifting chorus that is cut through effortlessly by Mick’s coarse voice and sharp punches. It is also the perfect opportunity for Mick to show that, lyrically, he is a cut above the rest, bringing intricate patterns full of internal rhymes that give his verses an almost inherent logic as they meander their way to a seemingly natural conclusion: “Still ill from back in the day, yeah I’m bringing the pain and if not let’s sing in the rain. Butterfly flutter by like Cassius Clay, I’ll be acting this way ‘till I jump back in my grave”.
Meanwhile, the main single from the release, ‘Hulk Hogan’ is accompanied by visuals that are equally as memorable as the Nickelodeon Loud House character with whom Mick Swagger shares his name. In much the same way as his comedic storytelling on ‘Never Been Stoned’, the layered instrumentation on ‘Hulk Hogan’ provides a rich environment for Mick’s lyric-heavy style to flourish, all the while structured in verses that are neatly framed by a torrent of eclectic samples. Even MF Doom would be proud.
Despite only clocking in at around 30 minutes, Villianaire brings 8 potently crafted songs that all hit different notes. With such highlights as ‘Starshine’, ‘Never Been Stoned’ and ‘Call Me’, Mick Swagger’s cohesive project’s worth is far in surplus of the £5 digital download price. Cop it now here!
Catch Mick alongside George Bucks as part of our UKHH Takeover at this year’s Nozstock festival!
UKHH Summer Sickness 2019 – Nozstock: The Hidden Valley + UKHH TAKEOVER
It’s that time of year again. With daylight lurching back into evenings and heatwaves around the corner, festival season is nearly here and planning ahead for going ham in a field somewhere is the order of business.
That in mind, we’re hyped to announce that we will be returning to Nozstock: The Hidden Valley in 2019!
Following on from last year’s UKHH Summer Sickness content (which involved summer mixes packed with heaters, festival/events guides and some sick bars and music videos captured on site at some insane weekenders) we’ve adopted the go bigger or go home mentality this time round….
Coincidentally, a highlight of last year’s Nozstock was filming the video for the Verbal Highz fam’s single ‘Takin Over’. This year we are LITERALLY TAKING OVER the Bullpen Stage for a showcase of UK hip hop talent that we’d bet our left nuts are set for recognition.
Before we get into that though… Takeover or not, we’re just excited to be going back to the farm! Last year’s line-up included (to name a few) Verb T and Pitch 92, Fliptrix, Chali 2na, the final performance from UK legends Task Force and a mainstage set from Grandmaster friggin Flash! For 3 days the sun shined, crowds popped off and pretty much everyone lost their precious marbles.
Never caught slacking, the Noz family (a load of them are literally a family) have raised the game yet again to provide a 2019 line-up with a formidable selection of acts for the discerning hip hop head to find sandwiched between the various bass heavy rave spots. UKHH certified fresh acts this year include sets from High Focus original dark poet Jam Baxter, fellow Dead Players lyricist and Potent Funkist; Dabbla, OG barsman Skinnyman, soundsystem hip hop from Joe Burn & Skitz, Illaman getting heavy in live band Pengshui, Gardna x Eva Lazerus and a bunch more to discover. (More to follow on this in the coming weeks.)
Oh yeah… and a UKHH X Nozstock Takover…
We’re honoured and more than hyped to be taking over the Bullpen stage for 2 hours on Friday of this year’s festival. But that wouldn’t count for much if we didn’t have a line-up of acts that we genuinely believe in. To any who don’t yet know the underground dons below, we guarantee checking out their music is worth your time and seeing them live worth the aching limbs afterwards…
BROTHERMAN:
The MC’s MC. Having truly earned the status of veteran with a recording career that stems back over a decade and having caught recognition from names including Skitz, Essa and Skinnyman, Brotherman is more than overdue his time in the spotlight. Returning late last year with the ill Huckleberry EP on MANA records it’s a safe bet you can expect impressive things from releases coming in 2019. In the meantime check the dudes history to see why for over a decade he’s been a problem!
Cop the Huckleberry EP here.
BACKWARD SUN:
There’s something in the water down in Kent. One of the many massively underexposed sections of the UK’s hip hop scene; the most south-easterly expanse of our island boasts a surprisingly innovate community of beat makers and spitters. Consisting of a quadruple threat of the rowdiest wrong-uns the seaside town of Folkestone could provide, the recently formed Backward Sun have released a relentless slew of tunes this year that haven’t yet put a foot wrong. Expect hectic, wavy crew vibes at the Bullpen this year from members Chie, 7th Sense, Misled and Pickle Rich over raw beats provided by producer/DJ King Bracket.
They’ve generously dropped a 3 track EP this week that you can download for free here.
GEORGE BUCKS & MICK SWAGGER
We love George Bucks. Still a relative newcomer, we’ve been fans of the Reading based rapper since he appeared. With consistently slick tunes and a lyrical style laden with punch lines, Bucks permanently has the air of an artist making tunes with the main aim of amusing himself (that just also happen to be dope). It’s not surprising that in his first year he’s already rocked some impressive shows including Bestival and a support slot for Black Josh. Big things coming in 2019.
And one for luck… We booked George and shortly after he hit us up to let us know that his DJ was Mick Swagger and he’d be jumping on the mic for a back to back verbal assault at Nozstock. We’d literally just discovered Swagger a week before and since have dropped his second video for single ‘Hulk Hogan’ on our Channel. Watch this guy.
We’ll be bringing you content from our Bullpen mandem and other line up acts in the 100 days(ish) remaining til our return to the Valley and obviously some sick content shot on location.
Ticket are available now. For full line up and passes CLICK HERE!
Mick Swagger – Hulk Hogan
Following up from his recently dropped Call Me. Rapper/Producer Mick Swagger drops a dope visual for his new track Hulk Hogan. Lifted from his forthcoming album ‘Villianaire’.
Video by Hot Recording Studios