{"id":17756,"date":"2024-11-24T16:54:33","date_gmt":"2024-11-24T16:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.godj.com\/news\/can-live-streamed-street-sets-energise-uk-music-for-new-artists\/"},"modified":"2024-11-24T16:54:33","modified_gmt":"2024-11-24T16:54:33","slug":"can-live-streamed-street-sets-energise-uk-music-for-new-artists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.godj.com\/news\/can-live-streamed-street-sets-energise-uk-music-for-new-artists\/","title":{"rendered":"Can live-streamed street sets energise UK music for new artists?"},"content":{"rendered":"


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DJ AG (pictured with blue hat) has been credited alongside the DJ Mak 10 with bringing energy to the UK rap scene<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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It’s a dark, drizzly, night in London and there’s a crowd gathered around a set of decks.<\/p>\n

They’ve turned up for DJ AG – whose street sets have been getting a lot of attention.<\/p>\n

He invites people, anyone, to pick up a mic and spit bars with him.<\/p>\n

It started as a platform to showcase new artists, but more recently, big acts have been getting involved, including Skepta, JME, Chip, Krept & Konan, Ms Banks, Devlin, ArrDee and Lethal Bizzle.<\/p>\n

DJ AG always draws a crowd in real life but there are thousands more watching on social media – his streams have racked up millions of views on TikTok.<\/p>\n

He tells BBC Newsbeat it’s not planned and he just rocks up with decks and sees what happens.<\/p>\n

“The sets aren’t new but the fact they’re broadcasting them across the planet means people have an opportunity to get their music out there in an organic way.<\/p>\n

“The great thing is we’ve shaken up the industry,” he says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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DJ AG is frustrated by the lack of opportunities for emerging artists<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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For aspiring artists, it can feel harder than ever to find opportunities to showcase their talent.<\/p>\n

Figures released earlier this year by the Music Venues Trust<\/a> said financial stresses led 125 UK venues to abandon live music in 2023.<\/p>\n

That’s one of the reasons DJ AG puts on his sets.<\/p>\n

“What’s different now is there’s nothing at grassroots,” he says. <\/p>\n

“You’ve got a lot of open mics closed down. <\/p>\n

“Right now, outside, we’re not paying for anything. A bit of power and we’re bringing it to the streets.<\/p>\n

“On this platform, it’s free. The emerging artists don’t have to pay anything.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

A chance to hear something new?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Rapper Louis Massey and his manager Kaianne Lewis Sapong think the industry needs a shake up<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Rapper Louis Massey and his manager Kaianne Lewis Sapong feel these types of sets not only help provide opportunity, but also offer the chance to hear something different.<\/p>\n

“For me, it can help. It’s only one viral moment away from your career taking off,” says Lewis, 22.<\/p>\n

“This is exciting. This is organic. This is the rap scene which came from the organic scene.”<\/p>\n

Kaianne, 22, agrees that the industry sometimes feels “stale” at the moment.<\/p>\n

“I complain about it frequently. Me and my artists want to really solidify our base so we can bring a difference to the UK because it sounds a bit repetitive at the moment.<\/p>\n

“There’s a lot of talent in the UK but it’s not being pushed to the forefront,” she says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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D Double E feels street sets can help provide a platform for original sound<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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In the early noughties, grime emerged from the electronic dance scene – helped by the underground and pirate radio stations.<\/p>\n

Grime MC D Double E says the authentic nature of these live sets – which at times have a pirate radio feel – reminds him of his own journey.<\/p>\n

“I learned this from lockdown. Everyone was going online, doing sets and it was a great look.<\/p>\n

“When it stopped happening – I was like ‘why has it stopped?’ <\/p>\n

“To see people doing it now – like it’s new. It’s great.”<\/p>\n

The record producer, who has been in the industry for over 20 years, says he “broke out in the same way”.<\/p>\n

“Doing a set for no reason. But it wasn’t being recorded and people couldn’t watch it. <\/p>\n

“This is the difference now – you can actually see it. Some of our famous sets, Roll Deep [the grime collective], Dizzee Rascal, you can’t see us, only hear us.”<\/p>\n

“You’re gonna see more talent. More windows [opening]. That’s what’s supposed to happen when the light’s shining.”<\/p>\n

And he says it will bring more originality, after a period of things feeling “a bit robotic”.<\/p>\n

“For some reason, everyone just went international and the UK voice wasn’t there.<\/p>\n

“Now it’s just straightening up a bit more.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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DJ Target says the UK rap scene is headed back to the streets as people rebel against the record labels<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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1Xtra’s DJ Target, another grime pioneer, feels people are now “enjoying that early essence” of the genre.<\/p>\n

“That self-sufficient, just turning up at places, those live moments,” he says.<\/p>\n

“So seeing that in 2024, a new generation getting stuck in and doing the same – I love to see it.”<\/p>\n

He agrees with the views of artists such as Skepta, who believe “creativity sometimes get lost in the music industry”.<\/p>\n

“It’s good to get back to that raw, straight to the consumer, sometimes direct from the street, untouched raw talent,” says Target.<\/p>\n

“Seeing this happen in 2024, I feel there’s only going to be inspiration for the next generation.<\/p>\n

“And we’re probably going to see a few stars come out of it.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Listen to Newsbeat live<\/a> at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays – or listen back here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n


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