Browsing Tag

South London Rap

Luko’s ‘1000 Words Part One’: A Sonic Blitz That Redefines UK Rap

With 1000 Words Part One, rap trailblazer Luko stormed the UK rap stage, armed with bars that hit as hard as the beats which drive this feverishly immersive debut with all gas and no brakes.

Hailing from the streets of Streatham, South London, Luko’s unfiltered lyricism and razor-sharp delivery proves that he’s not content to coast in anyone else’s lane. By crafting a sound that thrives on contrasts—melding ambience with unrelenting intensity, the single disrupts the monotony of the scene, charging straight into the psyche with its oscillating atmospheres and Luko’s urgent cadence.

From the opening verse, the polished production fuses seamlessly with the raw, natural expression that feels as spontaneous as a freestyle. Yet, beneath the organic energy lies superlative metric precision, proving Luko’s command over his craft.

Drawing inspiration from icons like Future and Drake while staying grounded in the authentic storytelling reminiscent of UK heavyweights like Dave and Blanco, Luko channels his dynamic style into every second of the track. The accompanying video, shot and directed by the artist himself in his hometown, mirrors his sonic artistry with a visual that’s equally vivid and authentic.

As Luko dives headfirst into the scene with 1000 Words Part One, he raises the stakes for what UK rap can achieve. With this debut, Luko didn’t just show he’s at the top of his game—he made it clear he’s gunning for the crown.

Stream 1000 Words Part One, which dropped on January 17th on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

XII 44 and Griminal Hit Hard with the Dark Side of the Grind in ‘Drippy’

Two urban cultures collided when South London’s rap legend XII 44 and East London’s grime icon Griminal hooked up to drop ‘Drippy’, a high vibe hit that subversively flips the script on the typical high-life rap narrative. Far from a hollow ode to wealth and status, the track reveals the jagged edges of success, exposing the personal cost behind the luxury branded surface.

XII 44 used his high-fire bars to set the bar higher than the Shard by tapping into the energy of the beat to mirror the song’s gradual tonal shift. What starts as a light, accessible hook soon morphs into a moody vignette of the toll behind the grind.

Griminal’s signature grime flow punctuates the track with his kinetic cadence as the duo exposes the bitter truths of ambition to deliver a raw and relatable reality check to audiences instead of attempting to make others feel inferior by flexing an unobtainable lifestyle. The superficiality of surface-level success is laid bare, as is the duo’s undeniable respective and collaborative talent.

With a debut mixtape in the pipeline, XII 44 is continuing to gain momentum with each new release after making a name for himself by hitting stages alongside Snoop Dogg and Little Simz. If anyone has what it takes to verse their way to UK rap royalty in 2025, it’s him.

For the full experience, stream the official music video, which has already racked up over 42k streams, on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast