There are various artists in the UK that have managed to make positive impressions on listeners. Among them are some rising and inspiring UK hip-hop artists. Hip-hop is a genre that has predominantly been focused on authentic expression through lyricism, and a few noteworthy artists have taken that to the next level. With that said, this article highlights some inspiring UK hip-hop artists you should know about today. In addition to exploring their art, we’ll also look at how they contribute to helping evolve the UK urban scene and also how we can reflect on our ideas of ourselves.
Kofi Stone
Kofi Stone is a UK hip-hop artist known for addressing issues related to men’s thoughts and interactions in his work. He is recognized for his self-awareness and clarity in his lyrics, demonstrating a deep understanding of the topics he discusses.
Kofi Stone may not be the most popular UK hip-hop artist, but he certainly deserves his spot in the limelight. We’ve chosen to highlight this artist specifically because of the general subject matter of his work. He usually speaks about issues that pertain to how men think and how they interact with things around them. So, listening to his lyrics, which are, of course, delivered with complex rhythms and melodies, is a great way to review your own thoughts and mannerisms.
He is, thus, one of the most self-aware men we’ve encountered in the UK music scene. What makes his work particularly poignant is that there’s a lot of clarity within his work as well, showing that he knows what he’s talking about. Here’s a track that illustrates how he talks about relevant issues with men.
Black Josh
Black Josh is a solo artist who started his career as part of the rap crew APE CULT and has been creating music for nearly a decade (released his debut track at age 17). His music is characterized by its lyrical and sonic maturity, showcasing his ability to express himself in interesting and complex ways.
His work is not only mature lyrically but sonically as well. There’s a certain degree of complexity with his rhythmic choices and overall arrangements. This maturity is one of the reasons why we believe he is one of the most inspiring UK hip-hop artists out there because he has a lot to say, and he does that in interesting ways. The ability to be true to yourself through your art is a clear sign of confidence and believing in yourself. Here’s a track that showcases this quality.
Lord Apex
Lord Apex is one of the more popular hip-hop artists in the UK today, but there’s a good reason for that. His music speaks to many people because he tends to celebrate the multiculturalism of the UK in his work. At the same time, he also creates work that appeals to those who typically don’t get much attention from others: for example, introverts and outsiders.
Thus, there is no doubt that Lord Apex is consciously using his work to bring people closer and help by being a voice to those whose voices are often hushed. Any artist like that deserves attention. This factor is important because he is actively showcasing just how diverse the UK urban scene is—it is far more diverse than we realise. What we can take away from his work, therefore, is that he is actively showing us that there is a place for everyone.
In turn, we can use the same ideas to develop self-confidence and self-awareness to know that we are not alone in our struggles. Here’s a track that highlights this quality.
Final Words
The purpose of highlighting these inspiring UK hip-hop artists is to review just how incredible some peoples’ stories are. Chasing your dreams is not always rewarding. However, if you approach it with a realistic plan, you have a good chance of being successful at whatever you want to do. These artists made difficult choices, put in the work, and now are operating as inspirations for others. So, let’s take the opportunity to celebrate their achievements and believe that we can accomplish our own goals as well.
