Scouse Rap grows up

A new generation of artists want to establish a genre-expansive hip hop scene in Liverpool — at long last

Dear readers — We all know that Liverpool is a world-famous musical city. But have you ever wondered why Scouse rock and pop acts have had major success here and around the world, while their counterparts in rap and hip hop just, well, haven’t?

That’s the question that led Ella Benson Easton on a tour around Liverpool’s burgeoning new music scene. She spoke with a number of upcoming artists who are trying to break out of the stereotypical ‘Scouse rap’ label and establish something totally unique, challenging the very idea of what Scouse music can be in the process. Read on to learn what they’re up to — but first, a bit of news.