Dave & Central Cee’s “Sprinter” Becomes Longest-Reigning No. 1 In U.K. Rap History
The powerhouse duo from London have racked up a historic set of accolades with their first official collaboration, “Sprinter.”

Stefflon Don Promises Even More Versatility On Upcoming Album: “How Hard Can I Really Go?”
Stefflon Don said: “You know I can rap, you know I can sing,” but she’s taking her talents even further on her highly anticipated debut album.

BBC Confirms They Received Six Complaints About Tim Westwood
The BBC confirmed Tim Westwood was the subject of six complaints, despite previously stating there was “no evidence of complaints.”

Unknown T Teases Track With ‘Top Boy’ Star Ashley Walters: “Who Said Drill’s Dead?”
Unknown T shared a snippet of his upcoming music video with the Top Boy actor and rapper, who might just have a verse on the track.

Cops Arrest Man On Suspicion Of Murdering U.K. Rapper Hypo During Queen’s Jubilee Party
Hypo was fatally stabbed while attending a street party to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in London on Friday evening.

AJ Tracey Says A U.K. Accent Is “The Only Hurdle” U.K. Rappers Face In The U.S.
AJ Tracey says U.K. rappers have been slept on because of their accents but believes the barriers are now being broken down.

U.K. Rap Icon Giggs Links With Aitch For “Just Cos” Visuals
Giggs joined Aitch on the new song after teasing that his sixth studio album is on the way, revealing he is “coming for the summer.”

U.K Rapper Dave Shares His Journey Going From Living On Buses To The Red Carpet
Dave read a message from his mother revealing her pride at his current success from very humble beginnings when the family was homeless.

U.K Rapper Central Cee Teases New Music With Fredo
Footage emerged of Central Cee and Fredo recording together in the studio, suggesting the pair have another collaboration on the way.

UK Rapper Clavish Drops Fresh New Freestyle “2022 Intro”
Clavish looks set to dominate the UK rap game in 2022 after making a name for himself with his nonchalant flow in gritty freestyles.

UK Rapper Bugzy Malone Shares Film Documenting His Last Ever Tour
Bugzy Malone is stepping back from touring to focus his attention on acting after starring in his second movie directed by Guy Ritchie.

UK Drill Rapper M24 Gets Out Of Prison; Drops Freestyle
M24 reflected on his time behind bars, “Jail is a f#####-up place, I don’t wish that on no one,” he raps on a newly released freestyle.

UK Drill Artist Headie One Drops “Too Loyal For My Own Good” Mixtape
Headie One, one of the heavyweights of the UK Drill scene is back with a 13-track project of bangers highlighting his versatility.

Shotty Horroh Announces His Return to Battle Rap
Shotty Horroh will be taking on No Loose Chat’s Tali in an epic league owner versus league owner clash, the first of its kind in the UK.

Hip-Hop Rumors: MF Doom Sends A Look-A-Like Doom Bot To UK Show?
IS MF DOOM UP TO HIS COMIC TRICKS?

MTV Announces Their Top UK MC Picks of the Past Year
WE SURVEYED THE UK SCENE…NOW MTV RANKS THE COUNTRY’S TOP MCs

Estelle: In The Beginning, There Was Rap
LONDON’S ESTELLE DISCUSSES HER RAP ROOTS & THE REVOLUTION THAT HAD HER CITY IN FLAMES!

UK Week on AllHipHop.com: Fast-Rapping Sway From Across the Way
THE UK’S OWN “SWAY” PONDERS JAY-Z, AKON, LUPE FIASCO & BREAKING BIG IN THE U.S.!

UK Week on AllHipHop.com: Giggs On His Southern Rap Roots & More
In 2008, Giggs aka ‘Hollowman’ burst onto the UK scene with his raw street freestyle, “Talking The Hardest.” It was like nothing we had heard before – street commentary with a slow flow similar to those located in the South of the States. That same year, he dropped his debut mixtape/album, Walk In The Park, which reportedly sold out in the first day of release. Initially airplay for Giggs was limited, and he was banned from touring by UK police forces for ‘fear of violence.’ Giggs, however, continued to push his music forward, and in 2009, he recorded a tune with Mike Skinner (of The Streets) called “Slow Songs,” which led to a deal with XL recordings and an album released last year entitled Let Em Ave It. A collaboration with B.o.B on the album proved there was no letting up for the UK’s rawest gangster rapper who continues to make moves globally. AllHipHop.com caught up with Giggs in his native South East London earlier this year and talked on a number of subjects: his intro into music, his influences, the opening up of the market here in the UK, networking in the States, collaborations with the grime scene, and more. AllHipHop.com: When and why did you start emceeing? Giggs: I started rapping in 2002; it was nothing serious – just mucking about with my little brother, just spitting in the house. Then I went to jail. I came out [of jail] and got on in the rap thing properly. AllHipHop.com: Did you start off as a Hip-Hop MC? Did you always want to be one, or did you come from garage – as a lot of UK MCs come from garage? Giggs: I used to mix ragga, I used to DJ a lot more and my little brothers, they used to MC on garage and that. I thought “rah lemme give it go.” But I wasn’t serious on it. But when I came out of jail, I wanted to get on the rap thing properly. AllHipHop.com: When was that? Giggs: 2004. I thought, ‘I can make something happen with this.’ But obviously I was still on the roads [‘hood] at the same time, doing my thing. Like, you have to get money. But then when I started progressing in music, I started going at it full time. AllHipHop.com: What artists, UK or U.S., have you been mainly influenced by? Giggs: There’s a lot. When I was in school I used to listen to NWA, Ice Cube was my favourite. Boy – they was running it then! Then I started listening to ragga a lot, rap – I used to jump back and forth. AllHipHop.com: What ragga artists – out of interest? Giggs: Bounty [Killer] was running it back then – but obviously it’s Vybz [Kartel] and Mavado now – but them days, it was all about Bounty and Beenie [Man], Spragga [Benz], them guys. Yeah, but rap-wise, all the way from NWA to No Limit, D-Block, Jeezy. I love the South style of music – the beats. AllHipHop.com: How much has Peckham been an influence – but also London in general – to your style? Giggs: Yeah, just a way of life. To be honest, my style is influenced by the music itself, by the beat. AllHipHop.com: Do you mainly use your own producers? Giggs: Yeah, mostly. AllHipHop.com: I suppose that keeps your work rate consistent? Giggs: Yeah. AllHipHop.com: Back to your influences…your style is very much the street style of rap. Do you gravitate more towards a certain area of the States, or is that general style? Giggs: Yeah, probably more the South – ’cause they mess with man. But I just do my own thing. AllHipHop.com: Did you have any involvement…did you ever go raving to jungle back in the day? Giggs: I used to listen to jungle, but I’ve never really been a raver. If the man dem wanna go out, I’ll roll out but… AllHipHop.com: Your passion really lies with Hip-Hop. Giggs: Yeah. AllHipHop.com: In that sense, would you say that pirate radio has influenced you at all? Giggs: Yeah, of course. They play the rawest sh*t. AllHipHop.com: How much do you think U.S. Hip-Hop has influenced the scene, compared to the more UK based sounds like grime? Comparatively, what do you think has been a bigger influence? Giggs: Everything, man! Everything has been a factor. Obviously, I do the rap thing, and I grew up listening to all of those rappers, but really and truly it was breddas like So Solid that did their thing before. That’s what got everyone on it, trying to take it seriously. AllHipHop.com: How did the Whoo Kid mix tape come about? Giggs: Whoo Kid reached out to me on Twitter. He said he was feeling “Look What The Cat Dragged In.” He just said, “Keep up the good work.” I thought, ‘Rah that’s, man, like Whoo Kid!” You know them ones. I thought, ‘let me build on that.’ As I am always networking in America, went over there and shouted him. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIUL10qOeR8&w=560&h=349] AllHipHop.com: How often do you go to the States? Giggs: All the time. AllHipHop.com: Mainly in Atlanta or New York? Giggs: Atlanta, New York, LA. Wherever the music takes you. AllHipHop.com: The B.o.B thing, “Don’t Go There.” How did that come about again? By just being out there in the States? Giggs: Someone said to me [about B.o.B]…an engineer said to B.o.B [about me], he [B.o.B] said to his manager. We went and met him, and we went down to Grand Hustle and got some work going. It’s all about being on it. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EuI2_pjDlM&w=560&h=349] AllHipHop.com: That was before the last album, yeah? Giggs: Yeah, I’m always hands on – it’s not gonna happen with me sitting down. AllHipHop.com: Yeah, of course. Giggs: I think with America, you have to go out there. AllHipHop.com: This is back to what you mentioned earlier about So Solid and about the evolution of emceeing in this country. How […]

UK Week on AllHipHop.com: The “Unorthodox” MC, Wretch 32
UK WEEK CONTINUES WITH “UNORTHODOX” RAPPER, WRETCH 32!