History
Goldie Lookin Chain was one of the first hip hop groups from Wales to chart. [1] [2] The group from Newport, founded in the early noughties to produce songs with "incendiary beats" and "flammable-looking trackie tops". [2] The Cardiff-based hip hop label Associated Minds was founded in 2004, [3] but it has generally been difficult for Welsh rappers to gain attention outside Wales. [4]
In 2012 a bilingual rap artist, Mr Phormula, became the first artist to rap in Welsh at the MOBO awards. [5]
In 2016, Astroid Boys, a Welsh rap rock band from Cardiff, emerged with a music style that has been called a mix of hardcore punk and grime music. [6] [7] [8]
Resurgence of Welsh hip hop in the 2020s
By 2019, Astroid Boys were described as "undoubtedly leading the way for Welsh rap". MC Benji said “we play with a lot of different styles and ideas and don’t tend to conform to any set genre.” [4]
In January 2022, Welsh rapper LEMFRECK was announced in the lineup for "In It Together", dubbed the "Welsh Glastonbury". [9]
In May 2022 Dom James and Lloyd, two rap artists who rap in both Welsh and English, released the track "Pwy Sy'n Galw?" ("Who's Calling?"). [10]
In the summer of 2022, Sage Todz (Toda Ogunbanwo) from Penygroes in Gwynedd, emerged as a bilingual talent. He released the first-ever Bilingual language drill track called "Rownd a Rownd" ("Round and Round") which gained popularity in Wales. [11] [12] Sage Todz also released a single called "O HYD" ("Still"), sampling Dafydd Iwan's "Yma O Hyd" ("Still Here") anthemic hit. "O HYD" was played by the Football Association of Wales during Wales' 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign. [13]