A new event to inspire and empower members of Scotland’s hip hop and grime communities launches this summer, helped by some of the most vital names in the scene.
BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Rap Show host Tiffany Calver, Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) 2020 winner Nova, rising star Ransom FA and award-winning author/artist Darren McGarvey are among key speakers set for the inaugural HANG (Hip-Hop Aimed Networking with Grime), a free, all-ages event taking place online and live at Glasgow’s SWG3 on Saturday 31st July.
Presented by the Scottish Alternative Music Awards (SAMA) in partnership with Creative Scotland, HANG is an educational and cultural programme aimed at supporting artists in making their next steps in the industry, and celebrating the diversity of the country’s hip hop and grime communities.
Alan Morrison, Head of Music at Creative Scotland explained:
Hip-hop artists have been active in Scotland for as long as hip-hop has been active globally. However, 40 years on, one of the world’s best-selling, most popular genres remains on the periphery of mainstream culture in Scotland despite its diverse and creative strengths. Managed by the SAMA in partnership with Creative Scotland, ‘HANG’ will pull together some of the country’s best-known artists, industry organisations and international partners to interrogate pre-conceptions about the genre and the barriers that restrict access. It’s time to shine a light on those artists whose voices reflect 21st-century Scotland and deserve to be heard by the wider world.
Registration opens next month to attend HANG, which will culminate with a showcase of performances from Scottish artists. Upcoming artists will also have a chance to play at the event by submitting their music in June.
The hybrid one-day event features panel discussions on practicalities, such as how to pitch yourself to radio and streaming platforms, monetising your music, and workshops on the core elements of hip hop culture such as breakdancing, spoken word, DJ-ing and graffiti.
Calver will discuss her career from blogger and promoter, to becoming the first female host of BBC Radio 1Xtra’s The Rap Show in an evening conversation event with BBC Introducing in Scotland presenter Shereen Cutkelvin.
Richy Muirhead, SAMA producer said:
Hip hop and grime is such a huge and growing genre within the Scottish music scene. With HANG our ambition is to empower artists and those working in music offering expert music panels featuring key members of the industry, and providing new networking opportunities. SAMA are heavily rooted in hip hop with the annual music award, and HANG will also heavily feature Scottish artists with spoken word and music performances. We are very thrilled to be launching a brand new event, and free ticket registration will open next month.
Full details of the HANG programme and ticket registrations will follow in June.