OUR ARTISTS AND DJ'S OF THE YEAR
These are most trendy, underground musicians shaping the future of UK music. Check out our favourite up-coming artists and DJs we will be keeping an eye for 2026.
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How 50 Cent’s Netflix Doc Is Driving New Streams and Reviving Classic Hip-Hop
The release of Netflix’s Sean Combs: The Reckoning has sparked renewed interest in early 2000s hip-hop, with artists like 50 Cent seeing noticeable spikes in streaming numbers. Documentaries of this scale often reignite conversations around pivotal moments in music history.
The Evolution of House Music: From Chicago Origins to Global Dancefloors
House music was born in Chicago during the early 1980s, emerging from underground clubs where DJs experimented with disco, soul, and electronic sounds. These spaces became safe havens for self-expression, particularly within Black and LGBTQ+ communities, where music served as both escape and connection.
Amapiano Is Becoming a Global Movement, Not Just a Genre
Amapiano began in South Africa’s townships as a deeply rhythmic evolution of house music infused with jazz, lounge, and kwaito influences. Its name, meaning the pianos in the Zulu language, reflects the genre’s signature jazzy keys layered over rolling deep‑house beats and wide percussive low ends.
House Music Then vs Now: How the Sound Has Evolved Without Losing Its Soul
House music’s origin story begins in Chicago in the early 1980s, where DJs like Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy experimented with drum machines and synthesizers in clubs that offered refuge and community for Black and LGBTQ+ dancers. The repetitive, worship‑like grooves were designed to keep people moving, fostering connection through rhythm.
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