Welcome to JP’s UK Culture Picks, your one-stop monthly column for all the best in UK music and culture! Expect everything from my favourite tracks and albums of the month to random YouTube finds, fire food spots to club night recommendations. You can find me on IG: @josephjppatterson.
For the latest edition of my UK Culture Picks column, I took it upon myself to highlight some of the artists I believe we should all be watching closely this year—and beyond. Thank me later. Tap in below.
Kasst 8
It might seem like Liverpool’s Kasst 8 has appeared out of nowhere, but his rise in grime (and rap) has been years in the making. Back in 2012, he reached the finals of the MOBO UnSung competition, laying the groundwork for a journey that has since earned co-signs from some of the UK’s top artists and tastemakers. With a sharp Liverpudlian accent and fluid flow, he fuses gritty, street-focused bars about life in Toxteth with melodic hooks, crafting a sound that hits hard but with a reflective edge to it. Collabs with Saint Ludo (“Subliminals”), Pozer (“What’s Good?”) and Giggs (“Cash Converters”) have cemented his place in the scene, and with a 2026 MOBO nomination for Best Grime Act, Kasst 8’s trajectory shows no signs of slowing down. —JP
Nicole Blakk
Nicole Blakk is fast becoming one of the UK’s most exciting new voices. Born in London and raised in Essex, the 22-year-old has impressed critics with both her freestyle rap skills and smooth R&B vocals, often switching between the two effortlessly. She first gained attention on TikTok, building a fanbase with raw, at-home performances, and has regularly featured in Red Bull Music rap battles. A one-time X Factor semi-finalist, Nicole Blakk has since taken stages at festivals like Glastonbury and SXSW, and recently worked with Dave on “Fairchild” from his genius No. 1 album, The Boy Who Played The Harp. Don’t be surprised if you hear her spitting in Hindi, too. With the UK scene at large now backing her cause, the only way now is up. —JP
DC3
The boldness and conviction in DC3’s raps are hard to ignore. The Northampton-raised rapper has gone viral multiple times, earned co-signs from other faith-forward spitters like Stormzy, and is doing what he genuinely loves: spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. At a time when the world is in desperate need of healing, his arrival feels apt. By reworking well-known secular hits and putting a faith-filled spin on them, DC3 offers Christians—and those curious about Christianity—an alternative that never feels judgmental or preachy; instead, he uses his God-given gift to share his love for the Lord and delivers the gospel in a way that feels… real. World, meet DC3! —JP
Jah Digga
From the underbelly of Nottingham’s infamous St. Ann’s comes one of its newest stars, Jah Digga, a rapper who has been sowing his socially-conscious, righteous bars for years and is now reaping the rewards of his diligence. Long before the viral freestyles, Jah Digga was putting the work in locally with his community-focused rhymes and raw, yet poetic lyricism from as far back as 2009. Then 2025 came and everything changed. His “Addictions” freestyle set the tone for a breakout 2025, with co-signs rolling in from the likes of Labrinth and Chip to DJ Semtex and Remi Burgz. The views climbed just as quickly, hitting the high millions, and suddenly a wider audience caught on to what had been there the whole time. Now being hailed as “the UK’s new freestyle king”, Jah isn’t new to the grind but now the doors are wide open. —JP
DAMEDAME*
DAMEDAME* are the Birmingham-born duo you hear about before you even really listen—and then once you do, it sticks with you. They’re writers, producers and artists in their own right, having crafted tracks with Jorja Smith, Tems and Wizkid, but now they’re fully stepping into the spotlight with their own music. Debut single “A Stranger” landed on the EA Sports FC 24 soundtrack, and recent drops like “Promise” and “Freedom” (with Jorja Smith) are staking their claim, showing the world that this somewhat elusive pair are ready to be heard and felt. —JP
LA Slim
LA Slim—an emerging singer-songwriter straight outta Croydon, South London—is making noise in all the right places. Armed with breezy, soulful vocals and indie-tinged production, recent singles “Motions” and “Coward” have turned heads both at home and abroad, and for good reason: he writes from his own lived experience, capturing everyday life with a style that’s as thoughtful as it is laid-back. There’s no rush for the spotlight, though; LA Slim is quietly building on his own terms, which feels refreshing in today’s culture of hype over substance. —JP
TR Gobrazy
“I want people to hear my story and understand that I’m more than a producer—I’m an entire package, and have more to offer other than beats and production,” TR Gobrazy told Complex in 2024. “I’ve been wanting to do this for a while now, but from being around my friends—Jim Legxacy, Glasshousetenant and Jsanc—they pushed me to go for it and I haven’t looked back ever since.” This South-East London talent shows exactly what it means to step out on faith. He’s got production credits on some of UK rap’s biggest hits (Dave and Central Cee’s “Sprinter” being the biggest), but now he’s ready to leave his mark in a different way: on the mic, with bars that bite and flows that have fans from all corners of the rap-sphere nodding to his beat. With tracks like “Handbag” and “I Was Shook” still doing the rounds, TR Gobrazy has laid the foundation for a career that could well be as big as his collaborators’. —JP
Skye Newman
Blending pop with soul and R&B, Skye Newman writes from the heart of the London girl experience, with a pen that cuts deep and tells it. how. it. is! There’s a familiar draw to Skye’s music, reminiscent of early Amy and Adele: bold in her stance on tracks like “FU & UF”, vulnerable on “Family Matters”, and never shy about calling out wrong behaviour on “Lonely Girl”, this powerhouse is shaking up the industry with a local, around-the-way realness that cannot be manufactured. Add recent nods at the MOBOs and The Brits, plus a support slot on Harry Styles’ upcoming Australian tour, the Skye really is the limit for this one. —JP
SINN6R
From teenage freestyles to his latest album, #FEDERAL, SE London’s SINN6R has been steadily carving out a reputation for unfiltered, hard-hitting UK rap. Sonically, he might sit closer to EsDeeKid than Blade Brown, but lyrically, he leans into street rap: rough around the edges, yet layered with smooth artistry. Part of a new wave of voices redefining British rap, SINN6R isn’t here to blend in or play it safe. Whether detailing block life or delivering razor-sharp flows over trap-infused beats, he brings a sense of urgency that marks him as one of the UK’s most intriguing rising acts. —JP
Nia Smith
South London’s Nia Smith is a name that had been bubbling in the industry long before she released her first official single, “Give Up The Fear”, in 2024. Early on, it was her live shows that had everyone talking: usually in intimate settings, clips of her captivating audiences—performing mostly covers, just her and her guitar—would always go viral, with everybody asking: Who’s that girl? That same year, she released her debut EP, also titled Give Up The Fear, putting years of honing her craft as a self-taught musician and Brit School alumna to work. She’s collaborated with Popcaan on “Personal” and secured James Blake’s blessing to sample him on “Limit”. The result is music that feels honest, heartfelt and full of soul. This is just the beginning for Miss Smith. —JP
Kibo
North-West London native Kibo is a sharp-tongued force in the grime scene, carrying the genre’s brazen DIY energy in everything he does—from his swagger to his Skepta-approved lines and stormy delivery. Calm one minute, explosive the next, his bars hit on survival, ambition and cartoonish confrontation. On radio freestyles, live sets and studio tracks, he’s raggo widdit; the kind of presence that keeps the new generation of artists and creatives fully tapped in. —JP
Diligent Dotty
Next up to put Birmingham on his back is Diligent Dotty. After serving a number of years behind bars, the rapper returned last year with renewed focus, dropping two strong singles in “First Day Out” and “Get It Out The Mud”—both packed with chest-beating boasts and an early road rap feel. His recent Fire In The Booth freestyle brought much-needed attention to the platform, delivering that 0121 greeze the UK rap scene has been missing. Dotty is moving like someone making up for lost time, and long may it continue. —JP
Amzzino
Under the sharp guidance of grime veteran Scorcher, Amzzino is a key figure in the genre’s new wave, bringing rapid-fire flows and London-boy bars with slick menace. ‘Zino blesses every track and freestyle with energy that harks back to grime’s first gen, when it was all fire in the belly and hunger in every lyric. Already making his mark, he’s establishing himself as one of the scene’s most exciting new barrers. Lock in now before the mega blow-up. —JP
Slew
London-via-Hertfordshire’s Slew is threading grime, rap and trap into the fabric of UK music with ease. Once a model for the likes of Daniel Lee’s Burberry, he’s swapped the runway for the mic full-time (at least for now), sketching out his own sleek sonic designs that demand attention. His Spotify shows he’s been dropping sporadically since 2021, but by 2024 Slew was full steam ahead, solidifying a fanbase with heaters like “TOXIC!” and “Stance”. His 2025 EP, WHO ELSE?, further deepened the impact, cutting through the noise and positioning him as a lyrical force to be reckoned with. Now, watch him slew the game. —JP
N3
N3 is here to put Luton firmly on grime’s map. Also known as Big Man Bars, the 17-year-old talent has one of the sharpest deliveries out there, with rhymes that hit harder than you’d expect for someone his age. Every track and freestyle shows he’s got confidence to spare, and fans saw it live when he shelled down TRENCH’s Grime 3.0 takeover at SXSW London last year. Competition for grime’s next big voice is tough, but N3 has what it takes. —JP
Kgrindz
Since 2021, Kgrindz has been building quietly but surely from the UK drill scene. More focused on making mula and living lavish than dissing “opps”, he keeps it grounded and true to himself. Tracks like “Still Trappin” and “What’s Goody” with Kwengface have charted, while collabs with Sneakbo and S Wavey have become hood favourites. What sets Kgrindz apart is his relentless drive to perfect his craft and earn his place in the UK rap scene. He’s grinded hard for this; it’s all in the name. —JP
N4T
Off-kilter but melodic, London-rooted yet diasporic, N4T’s sound can’t be pinned down. Dropped in the summer of ‘25, his GHANAMUSTGO mixtape fused Afrobeats with UK rap, capped off with shiny Auto-Tuned hooks that land where they should. From edgy city cuts like “Real London Boy” to cheeky party tracks like “BLACKpopSTAR”, he brings LDN to life with his own stamp. A jewel in the crown of UK underground rap, N4T reminds everyone that the scene can be as fun as it is bold while continuing to push the boundaries of sound. —JP
DeeRiginal
London rapper DeeRiginal has been active since 2018, but the past 18 months have seen his seamless blend of spoken word, grime and R&B really come into its own. His 2025 projects, London Borough Of Bewm and Bereavement Blues, were celebrated for vividly capturing the chaos and calm of city life, while his viral freestyles strengthened his rep as an introspective voice within London’s underground scene. DeeRiginal proves it’s never too late for a career to ignite. —JP