It’s an amazing time to be a rapper in Wales at the moment it seems. It’s even better being a fan as the
constant stream of releases and events featuring some of the most prolific names in Welsh hip-hop and grime means you’re never without something to stick your teeth into.
A show that looked like if you were missing it you were missing out was Mercy Rose’s headline show at
Porters. Their debut EP ‘The Trip’ swiftly followed and it has instantly become one of my favourite releases of the year (so far). As an introduction to the duo, this offers the perfect palette of what they’re all about and I sincerely hope that a full length project is in the works (no rush!).
‘The Lighthouse’ is the latest release from Fishguard’s Do Not Associate (DNA). This along with his other recent drop ‘Turbo’ are starting to show where the youngster is at creatively and although he can flit between styles, I really like where he’s heading at the moment. You can hear the growth in confidence and attitude on these last two tracks and with the announcement of an EP on the way, I’m excited to hear
whether he has elaborated on this sound or if there’s going to be some twists in the tale yet.
We’ve been treated to a hat-trick of tracks to coincide with Wales’ World Cup qualification efforts. Mace the Great, Mr. Phormula and Sage Todz and Marino have all offered their services to create music that would get any dressing room hyped before they take to whatever playing field they’re on! The classic that is ‘Brave’ gets a remix and video that put Mace in everyone’s living rooms on Match of the Day, whilst the master of Welsh language rap Phormula teamed with Sgorio to bring you ‘Un Cenedl’. Sage and Marino was a collaboration that those invested knew would have been a link up for the ages and they haven’t disappointed with ‘O Hyd’. If this one doesn’t give you goosebumps, check your pulses.
Other notable drops include Juice Menace’s ‘Can’t Complain’, brand new album Echoes from Bard
Picasso’s Rollo, the debut project OFF KILTER from Kinnigan, Lloyd and Dom James link up ‘Pwy Sy’n Galw’ and a whole lot more. You’ll find the majority of May’s releases in Larynx Entertainment’s MAY
2022 playlist here:
