Going Underground

Written and all photos taken by Anusha Chandra-Paisley

10th May 2024

The underground UK hyper-rap scene is gaining momentum, and Birmingham is at the forefront, giving it the recognition it deserves. This curated event invites underground artists to perform, igniting the crowd with their energy-inducing beats

Looking for artists similar to Lancey Foux, Len, and Fimiguerrero? Then the ‘Locced In’ (@way2locced) events are for you. On Friday 22nd March 2024, I attended Locced In’s ‘Blocc Party’ event at The Tunnel Club on Livery Street (B3) to hear 9 different rappers perform. I also got to experience DJ sets featuring songs from well-known artists like Gunna, Yeat, Young Thug, and Playboi Carti. This was Locced In’s third event, and it was clear that the crowd understood the essence of these events. I had the opportunity to see Mukki! (@mukkiwookie), Souljah (@souljah.9), Tyka$h (@ihatetykash), and Ohmien (@0hmien) perform at this event. 

The structure of the event began with a DJ set to hype up the crowd. Then, an artist performed, followed by another DJ set. This pattern continued until the event concluded at 3 am. Some of the rappers performed together, collaborating on songs they had previously recorded, such as ‘F*ck Up The Spot’ by Tyka$h and Ohmien. Despite the temptation to compete, this community is very supportive and uplifting of its neighbouring underground talent.

The first artist I saw was Mukki!, who performed a few songs. One song that stood out to me was ‘RAF’ ft Souljah. As Souljah had a set later on in the night, he joined Mukki! on stage for this one, which drove the crowd wild when he appeared. Mukki! also performed ‘Fanned Out’ ft Realm & Demz. The dynamism that Mukki! brought to the stage with this performance was incredible; the whole crowd was vibing. And when it came to Realm's verse, the audience audibly expressed their excitement.

Mukki! has three songs on Spotify, but most of his music is on SoundCloud. His music embodies the classic electronic essence of trap music, with a steady flow on top. I would recommend listening to his EP, ‘Elegance and Romance’ (available on Soundcloud), to get an idea of the variety that Mukki! brings.

Next up was Tyka$h, who may have been my favourite of the night. He exuded confidence on stage and had a relaxed aura about him, which was a refreshing contrast to the liveliness of his songs. Tyka$h performed several tracks, including ‘Bruce Wayne’ and ‘Uh huh!’.

Having been in the music scene for around four years now, Tyka$h is finally starting to gain some recognition for his talent. His most recent release, the FocusOnYou (@focusonyoumusic) freestyle ‘F*ck Up The Spot’, gained significant attention on Instagram (available on YouTube). At the event, Tyka$h and Ohmien performed this song together, and despite it being a newer release, the crowd maintained their enthusiasm throughout. This just goes to show how dedicated the community is to this music.

What stands out to me about Tyka$h’s music are the drums in the beat; the bass pattern is what really gets your head moving. If you want to get to know Tyka$h's music better, I suggest giving 'F*ck Up The Spot', 'No Time', and 'Bruce Wayne' a listen. Tyka$h is definitely an artist to keep an eye on.

Following them, we had Souljah, whose music undeniably ignited the hardcore ragers in the crowd. Souljah had more of a punk rock feel that featured distorted production and thunderous 808s. Some of the songs he performed were ‘Enigma’ and ‘KISSOFDEATH’. Souljah brought high energy to his performance, and the crowd certainly matched it throughout. 

While he has only one song on Spotify, his discography is mainly located on SoundCloud. Two tracks by Souljah that I really vibe with are ‘genesis’ and ‘nocturnal’. The variety of beats behind Souljah's lyrics are vast and really showcases his talent. For example, one of Souljah’s songs, ‘killswitch’, starts off with an electric guitar and features an upbeat, pop melody. Conversely, a different track called ‘hollow valentine’ from his 2022 album ‘oblivion’ has a more synthesised trap beat. Impressively, Souljah is able to rap over either style, showcasing the range and diversity of his music.

Ohmien was the final artist I saw, and he had the most dynamic energy overall. His passion and stage presence were undeniable. Some standout songs from his performance were ‘Commes Des Garçons’ and ‘Creep’, the latter of which he performed with KillFendi. The crowd went crazy for Ohmien’s performance; even if not everyone knew his songs, they clearly liked what they were hearing.

Ohmien’s style is mainly hyper-rap but also features elements of soulful alt-rap, as shown in one of his recent singles, ‘ayo ayo!’. You can find Ohmien's discography on Spotify, where you can see the development in the quality of the mixing and mastering. The lyrics and versatility have also shown growth, making it clear that Ohmien is continuously working to improve.

A few of my top picks from Ohmien are ‘ayo ayo!’, ‘feel sum’, and ’CHEQUE UR PLAYLIST B*TCHBOY!’. With a recent feature on the FocusOnYou Cypher, Ohmien is currently making waves in the hyper-rap scene. He is absolutely an artist not to be missed.

The Tunnel Club is an iconic venue located in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, known for hosting a variety of events and live music. With its four rooms equipped with sound systems tailored for such events, The Tunnel Club immerses people in the music experience. Having lived in Birmingham for years, I can confidently say that some of my most memorable nights out have been at The Tunnel Club.

The lighting at the ‘Blocc Party’ event was not overwhelming, which I appreciated because it meant we were not distracted by flashing lights or too many different colours. While the distorted bass is often a highlight of this genre of music, the venue's low ceiling made it difficult to hear the artists' lyrics.

The setup of the venue allowed the crowd to get hyped up alongside the artists, as there was no stage; the artists performed on the same level as the audience. However, the DJ booth was more hidden and closed off.

This genre of music is on the rise, and if you've been a fan for a while, you'll know that it's finally starting to get the recognition it deserves. Artists like Lancey Foux and Len are UK pioneers in this genre, introducing a growing demographic to the hyper-rap style music and opening doors for more up-and-coming artists. Recognising the need for a platform to showcase this hyper-rap talent outside of London, Locced In invites you to join their next event on Saturday, June 1st. Be sure to Locc in and attend!