the Manchester scene is not a collective and not even really one sound but it's kind of a network of incredible artists who would frequent the experimental venue White Hotel in the suburb of Salford and emerged around the same time in the early 2020s.

they would inspire each other and often collaborate, but each of them inhabits a completely distinct sound world though. Space Afrika for example are mostly focused on cinematic ambient, but also had a standout rap feature from Blackhaine on their album, whose main gig is as a choreographer for Kanye and Carti.

aya started out as a club producer but since signing with hyperdub has established a very unique punk rap type of sound. Rainy Miller is a producer and singer who started out as Blackhaine's right hand producer, now both of them do production and vocals.

Richie Culver is a painter, techno DJ and experimental producer who released some almost unclassifiable albums on esteemed avant-garde labels the past years, with features from the likes of billy woods and Moor Mother.

one thing I love about this scene is that unlike London rappers trying to sound American they all very unabashedly embrace their Northern English accents, which kind of automatically marks you as "lower class" as well. however they all refuse to see that as a negative and speak it with pride. it's honestly kind of the same as refusing to speak "proper British" as an Irish or Scottish person, in fact there's even for sure some cross-pollination with those accents because of geographical proximity

ICEBOY VIOLET
(grime/club & ambient producer/DJ)

the vanity project (AOTY)

previous features for aya and Loraine James:

BLACKHAINE
(spoken word rap/noise producer/choreographer)

u might know him as the dancer from the Vegyn x JPEGMAFIA music video

he's also both Kanye and Carti's go-to choreographer

from the new EP
blackhaine.bandcamp.com/album/and-salford-falls-apart

participantuk.bandcamp.com/album/did-u-cum-yet-im-not-gonna-cum

aya
(experimental & club producer/vocalist/DJ)
im hole
aya-yco.bandcamp.com/album/im-hole

I was about to make a thread about this. Great EP, likely to end up being one of my favorite projects of the year.

Definetly needs more attention.

Production is insane on this.

yo holy s*** this is flames video and track. first half of already amazing like dark ambient spoken word then that switch-up

listening to the new EP right now damn feel dumb for forgetting to give it a spin

first EP also fire damn. this guy is 3/3 Chungking Express samples, Beckett and La Haine named as influence, mans got impeccable taste too

blackhaine.bandcamp.com/album/armour

@Soupvillain @Yolko @Campari @innuendo @safe @TRiLLA @Drain_Cook @justynbass @kilihn @sentient_sherm_bag @deepsleep @pneumonia @sfsorrow @nosejabs @baella @sasuke @btstuedit @Misfit @ImFrench @DwindlingSun @Notmyfirst @Maartins @lemonadee @worthit @cut @eversince @Sarcophaguspussy @Goo @Papollo @corbin @Vox @Abolishdamonarchy6 @Sig9

Thanks for always tagging me

sample got me listening to Triad God - Triad for the first time just now and damn I'm in love, that was refreshing af. Need to explore more in this ambient + spoken word lane this is my s***
prestorecords.bandcamp.com/album/triad

In, thanks @op

Loving this kinda a trite comparison but some of the recoding / prod reminds me of death grips mixed with slowthai & clipping

Ihadthephoneinsidemyjeansicantforgetthat

This is amazing

love the song he did with space afrika on their last record

In

Wtfff

This video is madness

So goood

Need you to list some of your fav projects in a thread or here you got great taste bro

Appreciate it bro

I've been catching up on some things I missed this year, but I'll try to do something like that

Fun fact: He apparently worked with Ye on one of the DONDA listening parties

"He connected with Space Afrika on their critically lauded Honest Labour album, released two EPs, and collaborated with visual artist Richie Culver on the soundtrack to DID U C***YET / I’M NOT GONNA CUM. As a choreographer, he’s worked with Mykki Blanco and Flohio, and was even tapped to assist Kanye West on the DONDA listening events in Chicago."

crackmagazine.net/article/profiles/blackhaine

wow fr legend in the making

bruhhh just caught an NTS set by Space Afrika, just the most beautifully curated ambient. Finally checking out their music with this vid now and wowww

@marcusg noticed I forgot to tag you check this s*** out

I feel dumb for just going back to the hostel after the Microphones set at LGW, they still played there only learned about them when Loraine James called Honest Labor her aoty like a week later

Yeeeeeah this is intriguing af ima check out that EP thanks for the tag

Very interesting thanks for putting us on

Blackhaine feature on debut mixtape by fellow Manchester future goat Iceboy Violet... was a huge fan of their features on the last Loraine James and aya albums and they delivered so damn hard with this... Straight up masterpiece of deconstructed club UK rap, can see this going down a highlight of the year for me.

I might have to make this a thread dedicated to this whole deconstructed rap sound brewing in the UK, so fkn exciting
iceboyviolet.bandcamp.com/album/the-vanity-project

Previous features:

@Castle318469 @Yarrow77 @Kako @marcusg @Spaceyy @Soupvillain @Yolko @Campari @innuendo @safe @TRiLLA @Drain_Cook @justynbass @kilihn @sentient_sherm_bag @deepsleep @pneumonia @sfsorrow @nosejabs @baella @sasuke @btstuedit @Misfit @ImFrench @DwindlingSun @Notmyfirst @Maartins @lemonadee @worthit @cut @eversince @Sarcophaguspussy @Goo @Papollo @corbin @Vox @Abolishdamonarchy6 @Sig9