Radio LBB: Bars and Guitars

Image credit: Saviour Music

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to meet a UK independent artist who's got the industry buzzing — Native James. This guy is a force of nature: rapper, singer, and writer, all rolled into one. His music? A blend of metal and grime that’s redefining what British music can sound like. He dropped a new track on us called 'Power,' and it was so explosive that we landed it on a Co-Op Supermarket TV ad with VCCP London. Not your typical supermarket soundtrack, but that's what makes it so cool.

Listening to Native James brought me back to the roots of rap rock—think Run-D.M.C. and Aerosmith’s 'Walk This Way'—but with a modern, gritty UK twist. It’s like watching the genre evolve right in front of us, as artists start weaving live metal, rock, and indie elements into their beats. 

Right now, there’s a wave of UK artists pushing this boundary. Native James, Pengshui, JD Cliffe, Jeshi, Bob Vylan are just a few who are taking this hybrid sound and making it their own. 

British rap has always been about breaking the mould. Remember when Dizzee Rascal dropped 'Jus A Rascal' with those guitar riffs, or Kano’s 'Typical Me' with its genre-bending flair? UK rappers have never been shy about pulling from other scenes.