To me, there can be no doubt that the dominant geography for hip-hop this decade is definitely the United Kingdom. Artists like Central Cee, Stormzy, Dave, and many more have already broken into the mainstream globally. Shows like Top Boy are also captivating global audiences and taking the culture to another level. In that space, it’s always exciting to come across an artist who’s coming out with a style that’s definitively refreshing. ‘Fill It Up’, the latest piece from the Reading-based brotherhood OSP – comprised of Esa Kwame (rapper, beat maker), J Blackz (rapper, singer-songwriter, beat maker), Silqe (rapper, beat maker), and Subject (producer, engineer), is just energy loaded from back to front.
The beat is unlike anything else in the scene today, with flows that constantly change up at every moment. There’s a vibrancy in the production, a hunger in the flow, and and an overall sense of excitement you can’t help but buy into as you start to listen alongside. ‘Fill It Up’ is a remarkable landmark piece that shows audiences UK hip-hop is continually innovating, continually embarking on new styles, and delivering substance alongside immeasurably cool swagger.