‘The Sounds of UK Rap’ returns in a new format with a broader scope. While the series remains centred on UK rap, it now expands to explore the wider landscape of British underground music. From jungle, grime and the dance music adjacent.
Writer George Ginn supplies a playlist of essential new releases, alongside a breakdown of artists and projects you should be listening to.
London-based artist Kibo is no unknown MC in the grime scene. Known for his high-energy sets, lyrics, and humour, he makes music that fuses deep cuts with his philosophical, radical self-expression, ‘Kwengletarianism’. Appearing on various sets from TRAVS Presents, Balamii Radio, and Victory Lap, Kibo’s unstoppable lyrical force showcases the thoughts in his head of the legend, MF DOOM, whom he credits as an influence on his latest album, ‘Kwengletaria: Ragamyff’, but not in a way that feels mélange.
The bars and production on ‘Kwengletaria: Ragamyff’ feel like a channelling of creating a new sound of the Eskibeat and Mixing Records DVDs era. Kibo executes and polishes this in a way that stays true to the scene he grew up on while showcasing it to a new generation.
Your favourite artist’s favourite DJ. SIMMS has delivered a wide range of production since the days when he first released his jungle flip of ‘Would You Mind’ by Janet Jackson.
The NW London artist found his love for production in 2023 after DJing for 2 years prior, showcasing a myriad of genres including footwork, grime, dubstep, jersey, and hardcore.
His ‘Traversal Tapes’ EP, released in May 2026, solidifies his exploration of movement through sonics. Professionally, SIMMS takes on every role with ‘Traversal Tapes’. From production, engineering, and having practical involvement in the visual aspect of his own work, resulting in an EP that feels authentic and melodically converged.
‘Perpetual Motion’ stands out the most on this EP as an energetic ambient breakbeat that truly feels like you’re gliding across Splash Canyon on Sonic Riders (2006).
If SIMMS is Sega, then Nori is Nintendo. Growing up in St. Albans, Nori is the opposite of a grime artist but spins it his own way, having come off his release ‘i_aint_fly (G6)’ at the beginning of 2026.
Using the foundations of grime, he keeps the UK scene intertwined and developing, with each track shaking legs. His next project, file_1 will show the faith he has in himself and the team around him by turning up, having fun, and talking from the heart.
This is just the start of the beginning for Nori, and he is only getting started. Each Instagram post feels like he’s hungry and ready to conquer the new wave of grime. The streets will not be keeping their eyes off Nori. In years, he will go down as a legend to the scene, and just like in the Legend of Zelda franchise: “the courage need not be remembered, for it is never forgotten.”
Sampling the beautiful ‘Ivy’ by Frank Ocean, PlutoOrHades has documented his way into the London scene, having only moved to the capital from his roots in Liverpool last year. In the last year, he has paved his way into the underground, making a name for himself by constantly releasing new music, leading him to perform at The George Tavern for ‘Excavation’.
‘Heswall spoons’ is decorative yet so honest and confessional, circling questions of individuality within himself and his music. PlutoOrHades has released 16 other tracks so far this year, and with a run like this, we could be in for a run of 2024 Fakemink when the Essex artist dropped hit after hit every other day.
