New book What Do You Call It? tells the history of UK rap

A new book titled What Do You Call It? will explore the history and evolution of UK rap from the early 1980s to the present day.

Coming out via Velocity Press on November 22, the book is written by David Kane and features original interviews with pioneers such as Malcolm McLaren, Soul II Soul, Tricky, Roots Manuva and Roll Deep, as well as contemporary greats such as Dave, CASISDEAD, Little Simz (pictured), Loyle Carner, and Skengdo x AM.

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The book’s title references 2004 Wiley track ‘Wot Do U Call It?’, seen as a pivotal track in establishing grime’s growth beyond garage.

It explores the impact of soundsystem culture, punk and rave, as well as socioeconomics, gender, identity, music industry disruption, and innovation, on the rap scene, covering genres such as Britcore, UK hip hop, trip hop, garage, grime and drill.

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The release notes state: “In July 2019, eleven years after Jay-Z became the first hip-hop artist to headline Glastonbury, Stormzy became the first English rapper to follow suit. Wearing a customised stab-proof vest designed by Banksy, the South London rapper delivered an explosive performance and finished by thanking the “legends for paving the way,” name-checking Wiley, Dizzee Rascal, and Giggs. Despite how unlikely it seemed for decades, UK rap was now firmly a part of pop music and the greater hip-hop canon.”

Pre-order the book here. If you pre-order by October 22 you get your name printed in the book.

Patrick Hinton is Mixmag’s Editor & Digital Director, follow him on Twitter