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Jack Harlow announces Come Home The Kids Miss You world tour UK dates, including night at Wembley Arena

US rap sensation Jack Harlow has announced he'll be bringing his Come Home The Kids Miss You world tour to the UK this autumn, including a date at London's Wembley Arena. 

The Louisville native will start a world tour for his second album, Come Home The Kids Miss You, in the US this September, before heading out across the globe. 

Come Home The Kids Miss You became Jack's first-ever UK Top 10 album earlier this year, entering the Official Albums Chart at Number 4 . It was helped in large part by the success of lead single First Class, which sampled Fergie's 00s hit Glamorous and peaked at Number 2 on the Official Singles Chart - Jack's first Top 10 single as a solo artist. 

The album also contained a further two UK Top 40 hits in the form of Drake collaboration Churchill Downs (19) and a shoutout to British pop royalty, Dua Lipa (33). 

NEW: Multi-platinum, three-time GRAMMY Award-nominated rap sensation @jackharlow will bring his COME HOME THE KIDS MISS YOU WORLD TOUR to Birmingham, London Manchester, Leeds & Nottingham this autumn 🤩 Get tix in our #LNpresale this Wednesday at 9am 👉 https://t.co/MxQs5cW4Mx pic.twitter.com/jE7E3TD7B9 — Live Nation UK (@LiveNationUK) August 22, 2022

MORE: Jack Harlow's journey to UK chart supremacy with First Class

Jack previously hit the Top 10 with Industry Baby, his link-up with Lil Nas X , which hit Number 3 on the Official Singles Chart in 2021. 

The success of Industry Baby is also carrying on into 2022 too - Jack and Nas are actually leading the way with the most nominations at this year's MTV VMA Awards, along with Kendrick Lamar. 

Check out Jack Harlow's UK dates for the Come Home The Kids Miss You tour here - tickets go on sale from 9am BST on Thursday and you can find tickets  here .

Jack Harlow's Come Home The Kids Miss You world tour UK dates

November 2 - Birmingham (O2 Academy)

November 3 - London (Wembley OVO Arena)

November 4 - Manchester (O2 Victoria Warehouse)

November 6 - Glasgow (O2 Academy)

November 7 - Leeds (O2 Academy)

November 8 - Nottingham (Rocky City)

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Waiting on a friend: 10 essential rolling stones collaborations, ‘crescent’: john coltrane quartet’s enthralling work, tom petty & the heartbreakers’ 1988 gap year: a huge creative buzz, the great american songbook: top 11 country covers, ‘hot sauce committee part two’: beastie boys’ fiery final album, best fall out boy songs: 20 pop punk classics, karol g and feid win big at latin american music awards, ringo starr offers up ‘gonna need someone’ music video, florence + the machine announce ‘symphony of lungs’ bbc proms performance, def leppard share 40th anniversary edition of ‘pyromania’, billy idol releases 40th anniversary edition of ‘rebel yell’, the warning share music video for ‘qué más quieres’, liana flores signs with verve records, unveils ‘i wish for the rain’, snoop dogg announces rescheduled 2023 dates for uk and ireland tour.

The hip-hop icon will kick off the six-show arena jaunt at Belfast’s SSE Arena on March 14.

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Snoop Dogg has announced the rescheduled 2023 dates for his ‘I Wanna Thank Me’ UK and Ireland tour. The hip-hop icon will kick off the arena jaunt at Belfast’s SSE Arena on March 14, followed by dates in Manchester, Glasgow, London, Dublin, Leeds, and Birmingham.

Snoop will be joined by his peers and collaborators Warren G, Tha Dogg Pound, Obie Trice and D12. Irish rap duo Versatile are also hitting the road with the icons of the West Coast scene.

Meanwhile, Snoop and Dr. Dre have collaborated on a new album called “Missionary.” The hip-hop idols have teamed up on their first new music in three decades.

ScHoolboy Q Announces ‘Blue Lips Weekends’ Tour

Johnny cash, nat king cole, and selena gomez: currently trending songs.

He spilled in October: “Me and Dr. Dre have been working on an album for the past two months.”

Asked about the sex position moniker, he replied: “The first album was ‘Doggystyle’…”

The album title confirmation comes after Eminem shared a snap in the studio with the pair in September and captioned it: “Just a few bros…hangin out.”

Snoop and Dre reunited earlier this year for an epic performance at the Super Bowl halftime show – along with Eminem , Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar . And following whispers that the pair were in the studio, Snoop told Entertainment Tonight : “We’re cooking up a little something. I don’t wanna talk about it too much, but we’re back together again.

“It’s been 30 years since we worked on a record, and we’re doin’ something, we’re workin’ on something.”

Snoop shot to fame in 1992 when he featured on Dre’s debut solo single, “Deep Cover” and his solo LP The Chronic .

Earlier this year, Snoop bought Death Row Records, the label that launched his career. The rapper – whose real name is Calvin Broadus Jr – acquired the company from MNRK Music Group for an undisclosed sum.

The 51-year-old megastar said in February: “I am thrilled and appreciative of the opportunity to acquire the iconic and culturally significant Death Row Records brand, which has immense untapped future value. “It feels good to have ownership of the label I was part of at the beginning of my career and as one of the founding members. This is an extremely meaningful moment for me.”

Snoop Dogg’s UK and Ireland 2023 dates are:

March 14 – Belfast, SSE Arena March 15 – Manchester, AO Arena March 16 – Glasgow, SEC Hydro March 21 – London, O2 Arena March 26 – Dublin, 3Arena March 27 – Leeds, First Direct Arena.

Listen to the best of Snoop Dogg on Apple Music and Spotify .

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Nas announces Illmatic 30th anniversary tour of UK and Europe

Rapper will play four shows across britain, including a stop at the royal albert hall, article bookmarked.

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Nas has announced a new UK and European tour to mark the 30th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut album Illmatic .

The 50-year-old rapper will perform Illmatic , which he released at the age of 20, in full.

Register below to buy advance tickets in the presale.

The 15-date tour will begin in Finland in October before arriving in Britain on 10 November for shows in Manchester, Edinburgh, Wolverhampton and London.

The platinum-certified album includes classic Nas tracks such as “N.Y State of Mind”, “Halftime”, “The World Is Yours” and “It Ain’t Hard to Tell” and is regularly cited as one of the most important and influential records in rap history.

In 2021, The Independent ’s Sam Moore wrote : “As listeners of Illmatic and the rest of his discography know, Nas was always an old head with a baby face, more philosopher than hustler – but he is also a linguistic genius, capable of bending words, rhymes and syllables at will.”

The new tour will begin at the House of Culture in Helsinki, Finland on 22 October. It will then call at B-K in Stockholm, Sweden (24 October), Kb Hallen in Copenhagen, Denmark (25 October), the Palladium in Cologne, Germany(27 October), Fabrique in Milan, Italy (30 October) and Halle 622 in Zurich, Switzerland on 31 October.

In November, Nas will play the Gasometer in Vienna, Austria (2 November), the Uber Eats Music Hall in Berlin, Germany (3 November), AFAS Live in Amsterdam, the Netherlands (5 November), Le Zenith in Paris, France (7 November) and Stadthalle Offenbach in Offenbach, Germany on 8 November.

In the UK, Nas will appear at the O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester (10 November), Usher Hall, Edinburgh (11 November), University Wolverhampton at the Civic Hall, Wolverhampton (14 November) and finally the Royal Albert Hall in London on 15 November.

Fans can register here to buy tickets in the presale, which begins at 10am BST on Tuesday 23 April.

General tickets go on sale at 10am BST on Thursday 25 April.

In a five-star review of Nas’ 2021 album King’s Disease 2 , The Independent ’s Annabel Nugent wrote: “While most of today’s prominent rappers were not yet born when a 20-year-old Nasir Jones was coming up in New York City, you’d be hard-pressed to find one that doesn’t cite his 1994 benchmark debut Illmatic as an inspiration. A wordsmith, revered elder statesman, teacher, storyteller: the legend around Nas is all-encompassing.”

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Future Stars: 20 UK Rappers To Watch

Rap, an umbrella term for many musical genres defined by rhythmic speech, is something the UK excels at. Here are our top 20 breaking vocalists across drill, hip hop, grime and trap.

The UK, birthplace of grime and home to icons like Wiley, Skepta, Stormzy, Central Cee and Little Simz, has long been a frontrunner in the rap music scene. With its distinct regional flavours and a legacy dating back to the 1980s, the UK has consistently produced groundbreaking rap talent for the world stage.

Bubbling under the surface of the UK music scene, a new wave of up-and-coming artists and future stars is emerging. In 2023, British rappers continue to push the boundaries of UK hip-hop, grime and drill while exploring new cross-genre sounds. Our top 20 list showcases these exceptional talents, although it is by no means an exhaustive selection.

1. Surya Sen

Surya Sen has arguably emerged already, on the radar of the likes of NME, and playing some of London’s best clubs on the reg. Even so, as one of the best in the game, we’re dubbing him underrated.

Part of a new wave of British Asian talent, Sen is known for his playful blend of hip hop and house, drawing from Detroit flavours, French touch, garage and sample-heavy boom-bap beats. The result is a meticulously crafted sound that deserves huge commercial success.

If you don’t know, get to know.

TOP TRACK: Care Less (feat. Mafro)

2. Finn Foxell

Part of the collective Elevation Mediation, West London rapper Finn Foxell is putting in the work and gathering steam, with collaborations with the likes of Lava La Rue already under his belt. Playing with cloud rap, UK garage and house, his deep voice chronicles life in London.

A stalwart of the modern hip hop scene.

TOP TRACK: TYSON

Stepz was TikTok’s 2022 breakout star aged just 18, on the strength of his 2nd single. ‘Cramp Dat’ samples Soulja Boy's 2007 hit ‘Crank That’ and was designed to inspire dance challenges and grow exposure.

However, there’s more to this artist's rap game than good marketing. Inspired by grime legends such as D Double E, his flow and lyricism coupled with his online presence, could see Stepz push grime music into a new era.

TOP TRACK: Fast Life

4. Juice Menace

At the helm of a burgeoning Cardiff scene, Juice Menace’s rise is one that other aspiring artists dream of. The talented rapper was scouted as a teenager by a Warner Music rep after posting some freestyles and remixes on SoundCloud.

A few years on, the visionary rapper has a flow and lyrical talent that stands up against much more experienced contemporaries.

TOP TRACK: Pink Notes

5. Chanel Loren

Hailing from South East London, BRIT School grad Chanel Loren is a British Caribbean rapper, now based in Sydney Australia. Less than 12 months into her career, Loren is already being compared to seminal female rappers — SZA, Jorja Smith and PinkPantheress.

Scheduled to play the UK’s greatest celebration of new talent The Great Escape 2024 in Brighton, this meteoric rise is showing no sign of stopping.

TOP TRACK: Rollin’

Fusing gritty UK hip hop and vibrant Afro music, BZ is producing some of the best rap music known to the UK from his home in Croydon.

A break came in 2022 when his single ‘2 G’s‘ was featured in Top Boy, and BZ has gone on to earn the support of tastemakers DJ Target, DJ Semtex and Sian Anderson.

TOP TRACK: Get Paid

Manchester rising artist D8 has swiftly emerged as a prominent figure in the UK rap scene.

Breaking out in 2021 with his Desi-infused debut single 'Feelings', he has since amassed a UK-wide following and shared the stage with notable contemporaries such as Double LZ, Mastermind, Mitch, AJ JNR and Bandokay.

TOP TRACK: Bheegi Raatein

8. CHLOBOCOP

Hailing from Glasgow, Chlobocop is one of the most interesting young ‘rappers’ in the business, defying classification and often expectations with her unique anti-pop sound.

Her quick witted trap-infused flow is garnering interest from the UK underground and further afield.

TOP TRACK: It'sNotOver

9. Nokia Mansion

Chronicling being skint, in love, clout chasers and the rise of Stüssy, Nokia Mansion are a punk/rap trio to take note of.

Making their own mark on the DIY British rap sphere, catch them live first chance you get.

TOP TRACK: Dennis

Named a Pirate Resident this year, maybe we’re a bit biassed, but these mic skills are on another level.

LVT is a Zimbabwean born rapper, singer and songwriter from Leicester. Fusing R&B and hip hop, the vocals and performance are flawless. Check LVT on the Pirate Boomtown stage this summer.

TOP TRACK: I’m Done

A South London prodigy, Scuti’s contribution to the UK rap scene is significant beyond her years. At just 22, she masterfully blends influences from trap, grime and UK drill and has already appeared on prestigious Boiler Room and festival stages.

Journey through Scuti’s discography and enjoy powerful visuals to boot.

TOP TRACK: Eating

12. Deijuvhs

Over-archingly referred to as nu-metal, luminary artist Deijuvhs encompasses UK rap, punk, drill and softer shoegaze sounds.

With a profile that’s built on underground rave series’ in London and a DIY sound and aesthetic, the East London native is breaking through in real time, about to embark on a UK and Europe tour, writing residency and back-to-back festival shows.

Catch him if you can.

TOP TRACK: Seraphim

13. Strandz

A grafter set for greatness, poised for mainstream success, Strandz is a 21-year-old German-born, South London-based rapper.

Already cosigned by the likes of Stormzy and Digga D with a top 10 hit under his belt, the BRIT School grad is making open, intelligent rap, building a fanbase that includes big-hitter critics.

It seems he can do no wrong.

TOP TRACK: Us Against The World

🎧 discover more music.

20 New British Bands to Watch

20 Up and Coming DJs to Listen to Right Now

Book a rap studio to practice in London, NYC or LA

14. FFSYTHO

Lyrical dexterity, undeniable swagger, set to dominate the near future, FFSYTHO is fresh off her debut Glastonbury show after performing in the finals of the festival’s Emerging Talent Competition.

Operating on her own plane in UK grime, the Northampton-based MC is one to watch.

TOP TRACK: Yeah Yeah

Enviable penmanship powers Kish! and his brand of alternative rap.

A jack-of-all-trades, his music blog Paradoujin, ‘Haters Podcast’ on YouTube and photography all align with his commitment to document movements, scenes and artists when the mainstream won’t.

What’s not to love?

TOP TRACK: I REALLY DO THIS

Priding himself on wordplay, Eneeks’ soulful hip hop spans personal, political, urban and spiritual themes, designed to challenge listeners, feeding the neo wave movement in the UK.

TOP TRACK: Unity

17. Joe James

Rocketing towards the helm of the UK music scene, a child of UK rap and grime, Joe James is on a release rampage in 2023, dropping 3 back-to-back EPs, proving he’s got plenty to say.

Heaters follow heaters as James discusses the issues of the day in salient verses.

TOP TRACK: Cuts And Bruises

No list of hot new hip hop artists would be complete without Jordy.

Tottenham born and raised, with a virtuosic flow, Jordy has worked with the likes of Kojey Radical, Sam Wise and Wretch 23. A member of the growing rap/art collective Vibbar and a leader in the alternative rap circuit, take note.

TOP TRACK: beg pardon

A UK grime must-listen. Popping up on SBTV, GRM Daily and BL@CKBOX since his breakout debut EP ‘Peace, Lust & Sauce’ in 2018, Jafro might already be on your radar. The more you see, the more you’ll want to see.

TOP TRACK: Amazon (Freestyle)

North London genre-fluid rapper Nics is picking up support from the likes of GRM Daily and Kiss FM in the early days of his career.

Spanning grime, hip hop, spoken word and jazz, there’s style and substance in his contagious sound.

TOP TRACK: Cha Cha

This influx of young UK rappers suggests that the UK's legacy as a rap superpower is very much intact. From the more established Surya Sen and Finn Foxell to the breakout success of Stepz and the promise of artists like LVT, Deijuvhs and Nics, the underground scene is thriving.

For new artists trying to get their own music noticed, there are labels across the UK (major and independent) who will listen to your demos. You can find rap record labels looking for new artists by using the music/label discovery platform DropTrack — simply filter by 'rap' and drop your track. Find trap, drill, grime and hip hop labels looking for new artists the same way.

Need affordable recording studios in London or elsewhere in the UK to record your demos? Try Pirate.

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See Which Rappers Are Touring in 2024

Many of rap's most coveted artists hit the road last year , dazzling fans with live performances on tour. In 2024, some of the biggest names in the game are once again taking their shows on the road.

Drake and J. Cole  have already announced one of the most anticipated tours of 2024,  It's All a Blur Tour - Big As The What?  A follow-up to Drake and 21 Savage's 2023 It's All a Blur Tour , the rappers will make 31 stops across the country beginning on Feb. 2 and continuing through April 16.

On the heels of her Pink Friday 2 album dropping in December of 2023, Nicki Minaj is hitting the road on her Pink Friday 2 World Tour . The promotional jaunt will see Nicki perform 37 shows in North America and Europe starting on March 1. Nicki's tour, her first outing since the Nicki Wrld Tour in 2019 with Juice Wrld, won't end until the beginning of June.

Doja Cat  was on her  The Scarlet Tour  with Ice Spice and Doechii in late 2023, which ran from October through December. She's running things back with a European leg this summer. The Grammy-winning rapper will have a run across The Pond for 13 shows in the months of June and July. She'll perform at London's 02 Arena, Accor Arena in Paris, the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam and more.

Other hip-hop artists coming to a town near you in 2024 include  Travis Scott , 6lack , Lil Yachty and others. Check out the gallery below for a list of the hip-hop tours taking place in 2024.

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50 Best British Rappers Of All Time, Ranked

The time has come.

This feature, supported by NBA 2K, is Complex UK’s way of celebrating of 50 years of hip-hop — a sound and culture we all love, and cannot live without! You can hear the artists featured in this list who made it onto the various NBA 2K soundtracks over the last 25 years  here .

Since the turn of the millennium, British rap has gone from strength to strength. In the past 10 years, in particular, the scene has grown into a dominating cultural force in UK music, whose influence can be found in all sorts of other genres like pop and house music, as well as fashion, art, literature, film and TV. On the flip, there remains a healthy underground, either coughing up new stars or guiding the cultural conversation of the future. All that is to say, the UK now boasts a formidable, genuinely world-beating crop of rappers in the modern age as well as several decades of forebears.

We have our own culture, our own history, our own future, our own slang, our own infrastructure, even. We’re the ones setting pace now, catching imitators and admirers from abroad; we’re finally in a position where UK rap is completely self-sustained. That makes for a deeper, more enriched scene, and one that’s true to our own experiences. It also makes the cultural conversations more interesting because there’s more to talk about! We only have ourselves to compete with and it’s given us the kind of multifaceted culture that made American hip-hop so indomitable.

Rapping in the traditional sense, regardless of subgenre or era or whatever, is an entirely different discipline to MCing over grime. We don’t need to go back over the difference in lineages between the two because you can Google that. Of course, there are some on this list who are also grime MCs, but that’s only because they’ve either done both or have made significant contributions to the rap scene. And as much as there are probably quite a few rappers who would cite Wiley as an influence, he hasn’t released any ‘rap’—but without him and the grime world he created, where would  most  of us be?  

When putting together this list, there was a lot to consider. These things may seem arbitrary or designed to spark controversy, but we really did try to cover all angles. This isn’t just a ‘G.O.A.T’ debate or a Best Rapper Alive chart. We wanted to weigh up every factor, things like technical ability or how influential they’ve been. We also considered their contributions to the culture (which could mean everything from popularising the use of the British accent to pioneering a new style that became very popular), and yes, even how successful they are (if that’s had a net positive effect, of course). 

It’s also important to remember that there are different kinds of rappers and that the art of rapping is not monolithic. After a lot of debate, negotiations and reshuffles, we arrived at the list below. So, without further ado, check out our list of The 50 Best British Rappers Of All Time .

View this video on YouTube

Honourable mentions....

In no particular order:

Tinie Tempah, J Spades, Big H, Section Boyz, Black The Ripper, Northstar, Cookie Crew, Frisco, Tiny Boost, Benny Banks, Crazy Titch, Bashy, Blak Twang, The Streets, The Mitchell Brothers, Monie Love, Derek B, Fekky, Margs, Slick Rick, MF DOOM, Unknown T, Trim, Ms Banks, Baby Blue, Morrisson, Tion Wayne, Lowkey, Mover, Scorcher, Moorish Delta 7, Lioness, Devlin, Little Torment, Akala, Squeeks, Stefflon Don, Choong Family, S.A.S., Sway, Harlem Spartans, Clavish, Speech Debelle, Novelist, Dot Rotten, Smiley Culture, Jammer, C-Biz, Jehst, Roadside Gz, P Money, Ambush, Cashtastic, Tricky, Shystie, Durrty Goodz, G FrSH.

50. London Posse

It’s only right to acknowledge a group to whom many on this list owe so much. UK hip-hop’s journey could arguably be summarised in two chapters: before London Posse and after London Posse. Where the very first set of British rappers were elected to spit in American accents as marketable assets in the early ‘80s, London Posse—formed in 1986 by Rodney P, Bionic, DJ Biznizz and Sipho—set a new benchmark for what British rap could look and sound like. By simply choosing to rhyme in their native accents, meshed with patois and UK street slang, they set a recalibration at an early stage that would steer the course of the genre. Their lyrical style, fashion sense and attitude gave hip-hop a distinct UK feel. You perhaps don’t get as iconic an image as the Posse stood mean-mugged and defiant in front of a silhouette of Big Ben in the legendary “How’s Life In London” music video, representing a fresh breeze that was about to blow through the scene. Though they released just one album, 1990’s Gangster Chronicle , the Posse’s decade-long run was fuelled by conscious-leaning rhymes and party rockers, such was the flavour of hip-hop of the late 1980s and early ‘90s. Since drifting apart, Rodney P has gone on to become one of the genre’s most respected MCs, while Bionic carved out a line in the field of drum and bass. But their revolutionary work was more than done, and their impact will carry as long as UK hip-hop lives and breathes. Respect the architects! — Yemi Abiade

Hear all 50 featured acts in this NBA 2K playlist .

Poverty Driven Children. Pussy Drugs Cash. Peel Dem Crew. Pray Days Change... P.D.C. meant many  different things to many people during the late ‘90s and noughties. As a streetwise South Londoner, you knew the potential dangers of stepping inside the perimeters of Brixton’s Angell Town, where most members were born and raised. They were all for protecting the manor—any. means. necessary—and this rang true throughout the city. Taking that hood infamy and turning it into something more positive—spearheaded by Jaja Soze, the 10-plus crew fed the streets with vivid portrayals of their life at the time, mixing thoughts of Poverty Driven Children (“Fallen Soldiers”) with the trappings of Pussy Drugs Cash (“Streetz Is My Wife”). P.D.C. were to road rap what Pay As U Go and So Solid were to grime: forebears of an entire movement that couldn’t have happened without them. While Ty Nizzy saw his offspring, Loski, go on to become a top-boy in drill, Jaja Soze turned his hand to community work and continues to do a necessary work in retaining the culture in a now heavily-gentrified Brixton. — Joseph ‘JP’ Patterson Hear all 50 featured acts in this NBA 2K playlist .

48. Rimzee

Growing up in Hackney during the ‘90s is what convinced Rimzee to turn his experiences into raps. His music is often about the realities of road life juxtaposed with his ambitions for a better future, which resonated with many people during his come-up. His “2010/New Minute Freestyle” and cover of Adele’s “Hometown” propelled him into wider recognition among UK rap fans; both tracks were featured on his mixtape, The Upper Clapton Dream , and were accompanied by gritty hood vids that showcased the swagger in road rap at the time. Shortly after his increasing success, Rimzee was incarcerated for over seven years on firearm charges. But in 2019, Rimzee came back to an advanced rap scene with a determination to show he still had it, demonstrated by his first single post-release, “Go Time”, and two other mixtapes including his eagerly-anticipated sequel, Upper Clapton Dream 2 . Rimzee’s focus within rap has always mirrored the same kind of luxury rap that the likes of Nipsey and Rick Ross outline; since the beginning of his career, he has rapped about his ambitions and financial freedom, even when they were foreign concepts in this space. Still striving and thriving, there is yet more greatness to come. — Naz Hamdi

47. MIST

Birmingham has a long tradition of rap, grime and wider MC culture. The second city has a musical history that runs near-parallel to London’s. The legacy of soundsystems, pirate radio, reggae, garage and jungle runs generations deep in a city which has, like the capital, been moulded by the presence of the Windrush Generation. This legacy means that there has been an established and thriving MC culture in the city for decades. And so, every so often, an artist emerges from the city and is able to capture wider public consciousness and attention. Rhys Thomas Sylvester, better known by his stage name MIST, is among them. The rapper initially gained attention as a grime MC with legendary freestyles like his 1Take freestyle on P110 and a famous SwaggaCampMedia freestyle. His classic 2015 SBTV Warm Up Session is among the most viewed on the channel and would prove the start of a life-changing few years. Soon came singles with expansive videos, such as “Hot Property” and “Game Changer”, pushing the boundaries of what visuals from the scene could be by adding a finesse and extravagance reminiscent of the Hype Williams videos of yesteryear. In his music, MIST often drizzles in Punjabi phrases like ‘Apna’ and ‘Karla’, which he picked up while growing up alongside friends from Birmingham’s large South Asian communities. By doing so, he captured the dynamics of one of Britain’s most diverse cities. This relationship eventually led to a heralded collaboration with the late Indian musician Sidhu Moose Wala on their song “47”, which also featured Steel Banglez and Stefflon Don. Eight years after his national breakout, MIST continues to go from strength to strength. His visibility and success has ensured that the city which had largely driven the grime renaissance would be a fixture in the music’s subsequent flowering. — Aniefiok Ekpoudom 

46. Sneakbo

In 2011, when Brixton-based teenager Agassi Babatunde Odusina woke London up with his sample-heavy debut, “The Wave”, from the off, the sonics suggested a new genre-blending moment was at hand. While straddling underground and commercial success, merging grime with dancehall and, later, Afrobeats, Sneakbo’s style was of the streets while being streets ahead; rap with a bite—and a bounce. Collaborating early on with the likes of Giggs, Not3s, Chip and Mavado, he has charted in the UK with cuts like “Ring A LIng”, “Zim Zimmer”, and with D’Bang on his anthem “Oliver Twist”. His feature on Yungen’s “Ain’t On Nuttin” still holds weight nearly a decade later. Sneakbo’s 2018 debut longplayer, Brixton , hit the Top 20 albums chart independently, with the track “Active” making it onto the FIFA18 soundtrack. But his biggest moment was still to come: “Love Is A Gamble” with Kida Kudz has notched up nearly 500 million streams on Spotify alone since its release in 2020. Still releasing music on his own terms, expect Sneakbo to be in and out of the limelight for the duration. — Chantelle Fiddy 

45. K Koke

On April 9, 2009, Stonebridge’s K Koke dropped his debut music video for “Are You Alone?”, a song that showcased such conviction, hard-hitting bars and watertight delivery at a time when road rap was just getting started. During this period, K Koke was seeing the appetite for his music increase so he began working towards his debut project, Pure Koke Vol. 1, a mixtape featuring other road rap dons such as Margs and Joe Black. Police cracking down on road rap in the early ‘10s through performance and radio bans was pointless because Koke was passionate about speaking for the underrepresented, particularly those in North-West London on tracks like “From A Place” and “Cold Roads”, and he continued to drop heat for the streets. Loved for his introspective bars, his Fire In The Booth freestyle in 2010 is regarded among fans and critics as one of the best UK rap freestyles of all time. All this led to Jay-Z signing him to Roc Nation and he went on to receive his first Top 40 hit, “Lay Down Your Weapons”, with pop labelmate Rita Ora. In recent times, K Koke's approach to music has slightly changed, now preferring to work with artists from abroad (“Robie YEAH”, his collab cut with German-Polish MC Malik Montana, is his most streamed track to date). However, his foundation-setting work for road rap will never be forgotten. — Naz Hamdi

44. Joe Black

Joe Black isn’t as active in music as he once was, but he was a giant in late-00s/early ‘10s UK rap. Whether running solo or in tandem with Benny Banks, Joe Black’s trademark was the so-called ‘pain rap’, the visceral kind of lyricism that stripped away the surface-level glamour of street life and shone a light on what was underneath. It’s tough, uncompromising, and fearlessly raw, but he’s far from one-dimensional. In 2011, he dropped Realionaire , a classic from the golden age of mixtapes that we recently declared one of UK rap’s most important tapes of all time. It landed at the height of road rap, but only a couple of years before grime would eclipse it once more. This version of Joe Black seemed happier, more content. He still had plenty of fire in his belly, but this was Joe the kingmaker, bringing through rising talents like Youngs Tef and Stardom, and letting the world know who the next gen leaders would be. “Usual Suspects”, his epic 2011 collab with Squeeks, will also go down in history as one of the smoothest team-ups we’ve ever seen. — James Keith

43. Estelle

Only four Black or mixed-race British women have ever won a Grammy: Estelle Swaray (2009) follows Sade (1986) and Corinne Bailey Ray (2008) and precedes Ella Mai (2019). The success that the Hammersmith rapper/singer created cannot be understated, particularly in America but also especially when we consider just how difficult it is for Black British women to make a mark in British music (let alone the US), something Esetlle has been rightfully and politely vocal about during her career. Starting out behind the counter at the iconic Carnaby St record store Deal Real, the budding rhymer initially featured on records by Skitz and Blak Twang before attracting her own audience with 2004’s utterly endearing “1980” from debut album The 18th . She quickly courted the attention of then-unknowns Kanye West (who she met outside a Roscoe’s in LA) and John Legend, signing to Legend’s Home School label three years later. In 2008, Estelle dropped Shine , an album that still stands up tall today. Soulful and joyful, it may have featured Sean Paul, Swizz Beats, Mark Ronson and Kanye, but Estelle’s compelling storytelling was far from overshadowed; her talent truly shone through. Her achievements now include a Grammy, a Silver Clef award, MOBOs, BRIT and Mercury Prize nominations, a Top 10 UK album ( Shine ) and No. 1 UK single (“American Boy”), as well as a Top 40 Billboard album ( Shine ) and Top 10 Billboard single (“American Boy”). To reiterate: this isn’t easy for anyone to do, but especially for Black British women who are historically underpromoted, poorly marketed and ignored by mainstream media. It’s worth noting here that Estelle’s campaign at Atlantic Records UK was driven by Black and POC women. She has since released three further albums, including 2018’s reggae-based dedication to her parents, Lovers Rock , and hosts The Estelle Show every weekday on Apple Music. — Hattie Collins Hear all 50 featured acts in this NBA 2K playlist .

42. Ty

The sudden and unexpected death of Benedict Okwuchukwu Godwin ‘Ty’ Chijioke on May 7, 2020, hit UK hip-hop hard. This cerebral, unconventional, wise and witty rhymer had not only done so much for the landscape of British rap, but for his community too. After spending much of his childhood in care, in 2006, Ty co-founded Ghetto Grammar—an educational programme that utilised hip-hop and spoken word to engage with young people. As well as longtime host of the Jazz Café’s Lyrical Lounge , in the year before his death, Ty hosted Pass The Torch where he sought out the next gen of talented MCs. Ty’s 2001 debut on Big Dada, Awkward , made ripples, but it was 2004’s Mercury Prize-nominated Upwards , that nodded to Gil Scott-Heron, Gangstarr and Fela Kuti while remaining resolutely British, which really put him on the rap map. During the early 2000s in London, even though UK garage and grime loomed large, you also couldn’t escape the furiously-paced “Wait A Minute” and the brilliantly Bhangra-flavoured “Oh U Want More”, which received a rambunctious remix with Roots Manuva. Ty’s bubbly, skippy flow belied someone with something to say—and who had serious style in saying it. Check the lyrics to “Hercules” to see how this articulate, erudite MC balanced sharp wit with stabs of searing insight. Though Ty may not quite have received the flowers he deserved in life, following his untimely death, the tributes poured in; Idris Elba, De La Soul, Akala, Roots Manuva and Gilles Peterson spoke to the legacy he left behind. Greatly missed, you can pay respects to Ty at his mural which still hangs high over Somerleyton Road in Brixton. R.I.P. — Hattie Collins

41. Klashnekoff

Klashnekoff’s 2005 street anthem, “It’s Murda”, was everything the underground music scene needed at the time, balancing hard-hitting lyricism and intricate wordplay alongside Klash’s unwavering commitment to authenticity. The East London native’s debut album, The Sagas Of… , released in 2004, invited fans into a whole new world via then-fresh platforms such as Channel U and BBC Radio 1Xtra. And it was while touring the album across the UK and opening for acts from across the pond that Klash helped to bridge the gap between a divided rap scene: by collaborating and connecting with the very best in grime and road rap, he sent a strong message to hip-hop purists by jumping on Kano’s “Sometimes” remix, working with Jammer and Bigga Man on “Iron Face”, and even getting involved in a session with Just Blaze and grime champs Jme and Skepta. You wouldn’t blink twice at these collabs today, but at the time, these were important moments in removing the snobbery and stigma connected to emerging sounds. From tracks like “Black Rose” and later projects like Focus Mode , the founding member of Terra Firma cemented his reputation as a powerful storyteller, seamlessly transitioning between gritty street narratives to vulnerable and introspective reflections. And there’s no question that Klashnekoff’s early work sparked a wave of fierce, British rap over experimental sonics, which is very much the norm in today’s vibrant musical landscape. — Hyperfrank

40. Skinnyman

Despite only releasing one studio album, Skinnyman’s Council Estate Of Mind is still revered as one of the most potent and timeless records in UK hip-hop history. Grime was beginning to find its feet when this LP was released in 2004, but the Leeds-born, London-raised rapper showed listeners the issues affecting young, working-class people in Britain across the board. Perhaps what made Skinnyman’s debut so visceral was the wealth of life experiences he could draw from at a relatively young age, having to grow up very quickly after leaving Leeds at the age of 10 for a new home in London. Almost two decades since the album’s release, the themes remain so relevant—which, in turn, reveal the failures of the state. The beauty and fragility of Council... was that it didn’t spare any detail in its vivid painting of a Britain under a New Labour government. If people thought living in Eng-er-land was all tea and crumpets and grim weather, listening to this project would shatter all preconceived notions of what life in Britain was like. — Jesse Bernard

39. Avelino

Tottenham, North London, has produced a dearth of talent stretching as far back to the Demon Boyz, so much so that there aren’t many areas in London that has such a rich history of musical talent across a multitude of genres. There’s definitely something in the water across N15 and N17. It was apparent early into Avelino’s career (see: debut mixtape Underdog Music ) that he was one of the new generation of rappers from Tottenham charged with ushering local rap into the future. Young Fire, Old Flame was a landmark moment for the rapper that etched his name into history as it was widely seen as a passing of the torch from Wretch 32 to Avelino. Wretch doesn’t just make a collaborative mixtape with anyone—such is his sovereignty—but for him to handpick Avelino for this project showed the rest of UK rap and the wider scenes that he was a voice for the future, not just for the moment. One of the biggest moments came for Avelino in 2023—a decade since the release of his first mixtape—with his debut studio album, God Save The Streets . Avelino stands on the shoulders of those that came before him; that much is clear when you hear his debut LP. The patience it took for him to deliver it was certainly a lesson in staying power, that if you truly have something to say that’s worth listening to, people can wait as long as they need to until you’re ready to speak. — Jesse Bernard  

Hear all 50 featured acts in this NBA 2K playlist (including Avelino’s collab with Hit-Boy, “2 Certified”, featured in NBA 2K24) .

From Run The Road 2 to running people down on a regular, NoLay (who sometimes prefers her Bella Gotti alias) is one of the most consistent street-leaning barrers of the last two decades. Coming like a British Foxy Brown but on far more smoke, packing lyrical punches and a bag of flows, her early SBTV appearances set the kind of standard that still garners respect today. First head on wax in 2004 with West London crew Unorthodox on “No Help Or Handouts”, her debut solo single, “Unorthodox Daughter”, followed soon after. Landing front covers across Europe, her underground notoriety and hardcore fanbase have seen her through 20+ years and many a mixtape—and there’s no signs NoLay’s letting up. As well as having opened for the likes of Mobb Deep and the Infamous Mobb, she toured and collaborated with Tricky on his 2014 album, Adrian Thaws , with other cuts in the bag alongside Ghetts (who NoLay’s often been compared to) and P Money, and has also dropped many a dub over the years, even calling out Wiley in recent times for colourism. Warring with NoLay is never pretty! After surviving a serious car accident in 2016, the following year saw the release of her debut album, This Woman . While continuing to drop lyrical warfare, including four singles in 2023, NoLay has further cemented her staying power with her role playing Mandy in Top Boy , alongside an all-star British rap cast. — Chantelle Fiddy  

37. Bugzy Malone

Bugzy Malone wasn’t the first prominent rapper/MC to emerge from the North of England, but few have held the cultural influence and sway he had during his rise. Some were first exposed to Manchester-born Bugzy in March 2015, when his now-iconic Fire In The Booth was the catalyst for a near seven-month back and forth with North London’s Chip. But for many who were familiar with his music beforehand, this breakout moment was an inevitable chapter in a journey that had for years been gathering millions of views on legendary JDZ Media freestyles, as well as on a string of songs and mixtapes. In 2015, with the ear of the country open, Bugzy capitalised, releasing three EPs in three years—all of which charted in the Top 10. The music carried a trademark for deep introspection and vulnerability as he bared his soul, bringing a legion of loyal listeners into a story that, at its centre, focused on a young man attempting to change his life. Songs like “Beauty & The Beast” and “M.E.N.” have become classics from his catalogue, allowing followers to listen in as he successfully attempted to navigate the troubles of his childhood, the trappings of the road and battles with mental health. Many across Britain found a sense of relatability in his words. Two albums, B.Inspired and The Resurrection , have cemented Bugzy’s status as ‘King of the North’; his cultural influence up North is boundless, and his success has shown how possible it is for MCs from out of London to attain life-changing careers in grime or rap. — Aniefiok Ekpoudom

36. Roots Manuva

British rap has often been a space where artists have pooled their wider cultural heritages and influences into vivid storytelling and lyricism. Roots Manuva is among the finest examples of that dynamic. Coming of age in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, he was raised on soundsystems and reggae, as well as dub poets like Linton Kwesi Johnson. His music, though hip-hop, would reflect this eclectic cultural mix typical of a young generation of Black people coming of age in Britain. From early on, he gathered a reputation for bringing a distinct sense of Britishness into his music, staunch in his South LDN accent with references to cheese-on-toast and pints layered throughout his songs. Roots, 51, has released nine albums to date, all via the iconic Big Dada. Among the most seminal is his 1999 debut, Brand New Second Hand (now certified Silver), and 2001 follow-up Run Come Save Me (now certified Gold). The latter was led by cult classic single “Witness (1 Hope)”, a timeless record that stands firm in the British Rap Hall Of Fame, still revered for its stuttering production that leans on funk and dancehall. That record, like Roots’ career, is among the strongest symbols of the creativity and musical imagination that exist within the genre. — Aniefiok Ekpoudom

Hear all 50 featured acts in this NBA 2K playlist (including Roots Manuva’s “Witness (1 Hope)” featured in NBA 2K22) .

35. So Solid Crew

Bursting out of London’s fertile pirate radio underground at a time when UK garage was better known for uptempo party jams than lyrical acumen, So Solid’s role in the evolution of British emceeing cannot be denied. From the beginning, their austere, minimalist but always accessible take on the sounds of urban London lit a fire under a garage scene then becoming better known for champagne excess than street credibility, and they were among the first to fuse 2-step’s hyper-swung beats with darker, grittier sounds. This was a winning bet, as the group rapidly achieved mainstream success both collectively with their debut single “21 Seconds”, which topped the UK Singles Chart in 2001, and via individual/duo efforts including Oxide & Neutrino’s “Bound 4 Da Reload” and Swiss’ evergreen “Cry”. While this chart fame was fleeting, So Solid’s impact on UK youth culture went far deeper than a couple of crossover singles, inspiring an entire generation’s music, fashion, and slang, reflecting multicultural urban Britain at a time the mainstream press was still distracted by guitar bands. While their reign was cut short due to legal entanglements and media scrutiny, they nevertheless set the stage for the grime scene’s focus on barring out, large crews, and aggressive instrumentals, despite not quite making the transition themselves. From Asher D’s impact as an actor to Megaman’s transformative effect on UK rhyming, So Solid are the pillars today’s artists stand on, whether they know it or not. — Son Raw

34. Ms. Dynamite

Where barring is concerned, Niomi Mclean-Daley—aka Ms. Dynamite—has always been in her own lane, becoming one of the few mic-wielding stalwarts revered across a plethora of genres. From the earlier days of pirate radio sets and her residency at FWD>>, where the then-unlabelled dubstep and grime was the order of the night, she merged reggae influences for something far more hard-hitting. Delivering technical verses that always slapped when it came to UK garage (“Envy” will continue to destroy any UK dance for years to come), her own Sticky-produced debut, “Booo!”, a now-dependable club classic, gave Ms. Dynamite the platform to push forth a new strain of Black female empowerment, still felt today. Winning the Mercury Music Prize in 2002 for her debut album, A Little Deeper— while notably on more of an R&B tip, it landed her two BRIT Awards (including British Female Solo Artist) and three MOBOs. Despite largely stepping back from the limelight after the birth of her son and second LP, Judgment Days , in 2005, collabs with Magnetic Man, Katy B, DJ Fresh and her 2011 single with Labrinth, “Neva Soft”, have always demonstrated the talents in abundance. Having made her live show a family affair over the years, Ms. Dynamite is still a regular on the circuit, landing headline festival spots (as well as an MBE for services to music in 2018) and showering down corporate industry parties; big up YouTube and their Legacy Party , which celebrated 50 years of hip-hop with a standout performance from Ms. Dynamite this year. — Chantelle Fiddy 

33. Loyle Carner

South London’s Loyle Carner has grown from internet rapper to household name in front of our eyes. The scene often glorifies violence and promiscuity in its music, yet Carner offers a genuine alternative that has mass appeal. Uploading jazzy sketches of airtight lyricism on SoundCloud in the beginning of the 2010s, early tracks such as “Cantona” demonstrated his pure dedication to the craft of rapping, tackling his complex and endearing family history with disarming openness one track at a time. He now stands as an award winner, near chart-topper and essential voice of his era of UK hip-hop. And while he’s had to battle criticisms over his languid vocal delivery, he hasn’t let any noise dampen his mission to find himself through his music. Take his album run, from 2017’s Yesterday Gone to 2022’s Hugo , via 2019’s Not Waving, But Drowning , each their own personal quest to find his identity in a world that isn’t kind to him or his mixed ethnic background. The result is some of the most refreshingly honest rap music coming out of the UK this century. As well as genuine bangers like “The Isle Of Arran”, “Hate” and “Nobody Knows (Ladas Road)”, Loyle Carner’s sincerity stands tall in a world full of bravado. — Yemi Abiade 

If drill was its own country, 67 would welcome you at the border gates. LD, Monkey, Dimzy, Liquez, ASAP, 67 SJ and co are patron saints of the sound at this point, bringing it to national acclaim and controversy owing to their ominous presentation and eery rap tales that graced their classic anthem, “Let’s Lurk”, and countless other bops. You believed their raps because they lived them, having started out as a street gang in Brixton Hill before finding their calling as musicians. Not only have they been at the centre of drill’s musical revolution, but they’ve bore the brunt of critics who’ve consistently admonished drill’s existence, reaching the heights of parliamentary debate and national moral panic. Their shows and tours have been shut down under the guise of ‘safety concerns’ and various members have served jail time. Personal tragedy also came with the death of a member, Chris Kaba, at the hands of the police in 2022. 67 have had to overcome the label of a ‘criminal gang’ to remain deeply influential in modern UK rap. Their In Skengs We Trust , Let’s Lurk and Glorious Twelfth mixtapes are essential for anyone looking to trace drill’s origins, while LD has become the sound’s beating heart—a name you call upon when invoking feelings of the first UK drill generation. Such is their impact that when you think of one of this country’s most impactful sounds in recent years, you automatically think of this collective from South London. — Yemi Abiade

Like most British barrers of note (post-2001), Skrapz started out on grime, as Skrapsta . A former member of North-West London crew SLK, one of his biggest moments in the genre was when he and fellow SLK-er Flirta D clashed Wiley and Skepta live on stage. However, after a few stints in prison (more times than his fans would have hoped to endure), he ventured down the road rap route and blessed the scene with a number of classic mixtapes, such as Skrapz Is Back 1 & 2 and the ‘90s rap-sampling 80’s Baby . Working closely with his best friend, Nines, throughout the years, Skrapz—with his firm, commanding delivery and patois-pinched flow—has remained a constant presence in culture, especially with cuts like “One More Chance”, his freestyle over the Biggie Smalls classic, authentically finding its way to younger generations. — Joseph ‘JP’ Patterson  

At the beginning of his career, we all knew K-Trap as the faceless marauder painting vivid trap-house pictures at will on mixtapes like his 2017 debut, The Last Whip , 2018’s The Re-Up and 2019’s No Magic . Yet he found a new level of artistry once he revealed his face to the world in 2020, tapping into a layer of his identity that has produced one of the most impressive creative runs in the whole genre of late. Not only has he released his debut album, 2020’s Streets Side Effects , and dropped a drill project for the ages in 2021’s Trapo , but also released essential joint tapes with Blade Brown ( Joints ) and Headie One ( Strength To Strength ), all while producing an all-time drill anthem in “Warm” and countless memorable features with Skepta, Krept & Konan, Yxng Bane, DigDat and Ms Banks. Very few in drill’s recent history have put their foot on the sound and never let it go, but he is one of those ones. Trapo’s bass-riddled voice cuts through even the toughest production, supplemented by absorbing flows and a lyrical delivery that serves as a transporter to the murky life that he leads, one where road life is palpable but success dispels the badness. Still yet to reach his prime, all the signs are that he will continue to wow the scene and beyond in new ways that we won’t be ready for. — Yemi Abiade 

29. Kojey Radical

The idea of artist development is something that comes to mind when you think about Kojey Radical and his moves over the past decade. For those that remember the golden years of the SoundCloud era, Kojey was one of those names you’d frequently see in fan-curated playlists. If you were ever fortunate to see him live early in his career, you knew that there was something very dramatic about his performances: coming from a spoken-word background, he has always known the power of delivery and how to hold a crowd’s attention. At the time of its release in 2016, many thought that 23Winters —an ode to his relationship with his father—would be his magnum opus, but it was just the beginning of a series of projects that would continue to elevate Kojey and increase his reach. The increased musicality in his work through collaborations with artists such as Swindle and Kano really shone through on his debut LP, Reason To Smile (2022). He’s also another example of someone having to bide their time for that debut album but he’s also another lesson for the generation that will follow that it’s never too late to adapt and add to your arsenal if it makes you a better, rounded artist. — Jesse Bernard

In the post-grime rap goldrush of the late 2010s and early 2020s, quite a few household names were made, but one who managed to find both chart success and underground credibility in equal measure (no mean feat) was Fredo. Away from the mic, Fredo’s a man of few words, but you have to assume he has a good team around him. Take Dave, for example; from bringing Fredo in to join him on record-breaking hit “Funky Friday” (the first UK rap track of its kind to hit number one and without a chorus, no less) to lending a guiding hand as executive producer of Money Talks , Dave’s advice pushed Fredo beyond the confines of road rap without actually turning his back on it. It’s also clear he’s been paying close attention to how the wider game is played. No doubt his good friend Dave’s shared a few nuggets of wisdom along the way, but he’s clearly a student of Jay-Z’s “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man” school of thought. Obviously, business ventures don’t make you a good rapper, but a willingness to put good decisions over ego and make long-term moves will absolutely ensure you a long career. 2016 breakout single “They Ain’t 100” still rings off in clubs today, right next to all the big chart hits. — James Keith

27. AJ Tracey

AJ Tracey was among the class of 2016, among a new generation of grime MCs young enough to have been raised on the genre. He captures the dynamism of wider British MC culture: an artist comfortable on a range of genres, a dynamic that is a product of the broad spread of music that often floated through British households. From grime to garage, drill to soca and rap, AJT has shown a remarkable ability to fit himself onto almost any riddim. The result is a catalogue of EPs and two studio albums, both of which peaked in the Top 5. But what is perhaps most noteworthy about his career to date is a remarkable run of seminal singles. In grime, he released the high-adrenaline “Spirit Bomb” and a subsequent all-star remix, as well as the now-legendary “Thiago Silva” with Dave. Over garage, he released the anthemic “Ladbroke Grove” with Jorja Smith, while on drill, there was the relentless “Packages #MicCheck” freestyle on Link Up TV which showcased his now-typical, crisp flow. On rap, the genre which has held his attention in recent years, there have been songs like “Rain” with Aitch and “Anxious”. Having started initiatives like the AJ Tracey Fund with Oxford University, this rapper has made it his mission to help the next generations of creatives live out their dreams (like he, himself, continues to do). — Aniefiok Ekpoudom 

Hear all 50 featured acts in this NBA 2K playlist (including AJ Tracey’s collab with Rema, “FYN”, featured in NBA 2K24) .

26. CASISDEAD

First heard by many as Castro on Jme’s 2006 mixtape, Boy Better Know, Edition 3: Derkhead (and for a short time thereafter rhyming under Castro Saint), following a lengthy hiatus, his return to the game as CASISDEAD birthed a legend, despite the fact his debut album only landed in October 2023. It was, of course, worth the wait: debuting at No. 7 in the UK albums chart and No. 1 on the UK hip-hop and R&B albums chart, Famous Last Words is indeed a future classic. Signed to XL and responsible for the Deadcorp and ImReallyDead labels, with much speculation as to his identity, his epic masks add to the mysterious persona, given his aversion to giving interviews and doing press in general. Way more than just a rapper and songwriter, his creative vision (often typified with dystopian aesthetics) that runs through his music, merch and visuals, alongside his entrepreneurialism, are of equal importance. With a fanbase ranging from gangster to hipster to EMO teens and coked-up celebrities (or so we hear), despite his longevity, CASISDEAD’s star is still very much rising. — Chantelle Fiddy 

25. Lady Leshurr

Born and raised in Birmingam, Lady Leshurr secures her position among rap royalty through her distinctive fusion of articulate, rapid-fire flows and impeccable wordplay. Throughout the late-00s and early 2010s, her dedicated fanbase was built off the back of her unwavering work-rate; her unadulterated authenticity took centre stage in 2011 on the Friggin L mixtape, while her remix of Chris Brown’s “Look At Me Now” saw her display her cheeky humour and bright singing voice, and boy did she give Busta a run for his money with her own fast-paced verse. The rapper, singer and songwriter solidified her name in London’s buzzing music scene early on by bringing her magic to every live show and radio set she could, consistently dropping projects and collecting video freestyles on platforms like SBTV (see: F64s) like shiny Pokémon cards. Lady Leshurr’s 2015-launched freestyle series, Queen’s Speech , took her name international and showed the potential to be unlocked in UK music’s relationship with social media—something we often see now on TikTok but was a rare thing back then. Lady Leshurr’s 10,000 hours were instrumental in not only breaking down barriers within a male-dominated scene but also helping to establish the building blocks between 0121 and London. Miss O’Garro deserves all her flowers. — Hyperfrank

When MCs talk about being independent, rarely do they really mean it; there’s almost always distribution/management/publisher/PR/pluggers lurking somewhere. A long-standing relationship with live agent Rebecca Prochnik aside, Meridian Walk-raised Jamie Adenuga has been literally independent since 2003. The co-founder of Boy Better Know Entertainment also turned down deals with major high street stores keen to stock his brand because the T-shirt game remains very, very healthy (shout-out Memet). As well as being a merch, MySpace, Jeremy Corbyn, veganism and Tesla trailblazer, the University of Greenwich graduate also offered an alternative perspective to the game; he wasn’t a goodie-goodie, but he was far more likely to geek out on computer game chat than get too greazy. Over the course of multiple bodies of work (which include a No. 12 album with Integrity> ), he’s also been celebrated for an innate lyrical inventiveness and an uncanny ability to create catchphrases such as Shhhh… (do we even need to finish that sentence? No) and slang—you poomplexes ! Close associations with Sidemen and Giggs (as well as his brother, Skepta, of course) have given Jme a glimpse of the commercial side of life, but really, he’s focused on retaining the purity of the game he loves so much: grime. — HC

Hear all 50 featured acts in this NBA 2K playlist (including Jme’s collab with Frisco and Shorty, “Go Thru Face”, featured in NBA 2K19) .

Knucks grew up listening to the greats, and it shows—whether it’s mirroring Wretch 32’s considered approach to songwriting, punching in on a beat like Nasty Nas or being inspired by the grime MCs of old in creating new pockets and flows, he’s very much a student of the game. Born to Nigerian parents in South Kilburn, Knucks released his first project, Killmatic —a nod to Nas’ seminal classic, Illmatic —in 2014, and quickly became a favourite on the underground rap scene for bringing jazz elements to the fore, this all before the UK jazz explosion of 2016. Projects like 2019’s NRG 105 and 2020’s London Class helped further stamp Knucks as one of our finest lyrical minds, but it was 2022’s Alpha Place that stopped us all in our tracks: heavy on the jazz, drill and grime influences, Ashley Nwachukwu created a real modern-day classic with this one. The best, however, is yet to come. — Joseph ‘JP’ Patterson

22. D-Block Europe

What started as an extension of the American D-Block, headed up by Jadakiss, has morphed into one of UK rap’s most commercially successful acts of all time, thanks to the chemistry of Young Adz and Dirtbike LB. Brothers in arms, the South London duo continues to set new standards in ways that are almost immeasurable, yet it still feels like they’re only getting started. Reading DBE’s achievements almost leaves you short of breath, but here it goes: six platinum-selling singles, ten gold singles, six gold-selling mixtapes, 30 singles in the Top 40, sold-out shows at historic venues such as London’s O2 Arena and Alexandra Palace, and I could go on some more. Cultural relevance as pioneers of trap-wave, impactful tracks like “Kitchen Kings”, “Home P*ssy”, “Overseas” and “Ferrari Horses” set new records at will, owing to the combined gloss and grit of their music. Gloss because of the lifestyle they portray, grit because of their personal struggles within said lifestyle and how they’ve overcome them—all to see in their mammoth catalogue including Home Alone , Home Alone 2 , PTSD and DBE World (to name but a few). You can’t have gone to a rave or club night since 2018 and not heard a DBE track, which says a lot about the pair’s impact in such a short space of time. — Yemi Abiade

21. Headie One

Headie One has reached more accomplishments than you may remember. 2017’s “Know Better” marked him out as one to watch and is now an all-time classic track in the drill canon, while the likes of “18HUNNA”, “Back To Basics”, “Only You Freestyle”, “Ain’t It Different” and “Marvin’s Sofa” are much-loved bops brimming with the Tottenham star’s penchant for piercing hood stories, finding solace in his humanity and the road life that threatened to consume him. This is an artist who has gone toe-to-toe with Stormzy, Dave, Skepta, AJ Tracey and even Drake on record and has scooped out several memorable moments for himself. Not only that, but he was bold enough to take artistic risks when he linked up with electronic producer Fred again.. in 2021 with the divisive Gang project, drawing the ire of his day-one fans. Which goes to show Headie’s ability to invoke emotion among rap heads across the country. A true needle mover, having secured a No. 1 debut album in 2020’s Edna , Broadwater Farm’s finest also has several classic drill mixtapes to his name in Drillers x Trappers , The One and Music x Road . Headie is a truly transcendent artist, able to transition from the genre he came from and return like a prodigal son, ready to shake the scene once more. — Yemi Abiade

20. Central Cee

In age where the music industry is becoming ever so reliant on numbers, ability is often a footnote when discussing the best rappers in the game. In the case of Central Cee, his meteoric rise over the past couple years is backed up by his fierce desire to keep improving on what has already been achieved. Make no mistake, though: Cench’s ascent has been a result of a decade’s worth of waiting in the wings, sharpening his arsenal and ensuring he was ready for the landmark moments he’s already etched into history. With six Top 10 hits and a No. 1 in “Sprinter” with Dave, one of Central Cee’s traits has been his ability to position himself in the right place, at the right time. Dropping a song called “Doja”, which became a club hit with endless edits and remixes, proved he was able to capitalise on memable moments; he’s the Gen Z rapper made for a social-first world. Following his On The Radar freestyle with Drake, which increased his global reach a year after his LA Leakers freestyle, and his continental link-up on “Eurovision”, the West London rapper has been building towards a career that has yet to be emulated by any of his UK peers. — Jesse Bernard

Hear all 50 featured acts in this NBA 2K playlist (including Central Cee’s “One Up” featured in NBA 2K24) .

19. Digga D

When cultural conservatives clutch their pearls at UK drill’s content, they may as well picture Digga D. From provocative mixtape titles like Double Tap Diaries and Made In The Pyrex to contentious lyrics aimed the opps, the Labroke Grove driller blurs the line between menacing threats and a hedonistic celebration of street life in the social media age. To the consternation of the Met and parent’s groups, Digga’s sensationalistic approach to drill music has led to consistent chart success, with even legal challenges and enforced censorship of his lyrics doing little to discourage listeners. For these same fans, Digga’s appeal is his effortless cool and refusal to abide by societal standards that would keep him broke and ignored: every chain, blue paisley suit and foreign whip makes him a hero in the eyes of more people. However, there’s far more to Digga’s music than sensationalism. Look beneath the surface and you’ll find heartfelt examinations of everything from PTSD to family woes, all delivered with a canny sense of melody and influences ranging from classic dancehall to hip-hop’s early aughts. Rhys Angelo Emile Herbert’s music may never be respectable, but it’s always real—and that’s just how he likes it. — Son Raw

18. Blade Brown

Battersea-bred barrer Blade Brown has been in the rap game for close to twenty years, and while most would consider his 2007-released mixtape, Hollow Meetz Blade, with fellow South Londoner Giggs as his introduction to the scene, they would be wrong. In fact, Blade has been rapping since 2004, but that link-up catalysed his presence within the larger UK music arena. After Hollow Meetz Blade , Blade took another break from rap—something that has become synonymous with his career. But, in 2011, he returned with his most accessible and official solo project, Financial Times , and began his Bags & Boxes mixtape series following that. A true king of hustle anthems, it’s not hard to see why so many compare Blade to the likes of Gucci Mane, Young Jeezy and Rick Ross; he’s a flashy rapper whose content is mainly focused on things concerning the trap. But it’s always felt cinematic, mafia-like even, by way of his infectious hooks, confident tone, and sleek production choices. Although he’s made it abundantly clear that he doesn’t need to rap for clats, we’re glad he still does so anyway. — Naz Hamdi

17. Youngs Teflon

Youngs Teflon has been spotted many a time in pixelated, low-quality grime clashes on old YouTube vids from 2008/2009, but few people know that this is where his music career began due to his revered position in UK rap. Youngs has always been a slick rapper, and his ability to form deeper, conceptual narratives across his music shows that his pen game is to be saluted. Growing up in South London, the heartbeat of UK rap in the early 2000s, meant that Youngs was caught up in the politics of the areas around him, yet he turned to his raps and would use his observations to shape his music. With over ten mixtapes under his belt, including Renaissance , the Call Of Duty series and All Eyes On Me Against The World , countless freestyles, and a career spanning close to two decades, Youngs is an artist whose consistency and high-quality rhyming has placed him among the greatest rappers to come out of the UK. Staying current throughout the years by working within the realms of road rap, drill and grime, whilst collaborating with the likes of Tiny Boost, Carns Hill and Knucks without quality faltering, makes him a highly worthy entry on this list. — NH

16. Krept & Konan

Krept & Konan, who first made their name in South London’s Gipset alongside Krept’s late cousin Cadet, have been so successful across so many platforms you could almost— almost —forget their impact on UK rap. Their 2011 cover of Hov’s “Otis” racked up five million views in five days and, although it was swiftly taken down due to copyright infringement, they had made their point. 2013 mixtape Young Kingz further established the pair’s right to be cocky; trading in punchlines, puns, metaphor and melody, Krept and Konan super-successfully managed to create a party atmosphere within a semi-socially conscious mindframe and a clear love and respect for each other. Continuing to utilise social media to their advantage, the pair helped propel rap from the streets to the charts, breaking the record for highest-charting UK album by an Unsigned Act (it went in at No. 19), helped in part by the brooding, brilliant “Don’t Waste My Time” as well as “My Story”, Konan’s painful paeon to his stepdad, Carlton Ned. Since then, they’ve had two Top 5 albums, worked with Headie One and Rick Ross, established soul food restaurant Crepes N Cones (forced to close during the pandemic), founded youth charity Positive Direction and taken their Ban Drill campaign to the Houses of Parliament. Rap Game UK , the award-winning BBC talent show which they host alongside DJ Target, is currently on its fifth season, while Krept’s vegan, organic, eco-friendly skincare range, Nala’s Baby, sold out online within 10 minutes of its launch. Essentially though, it all stems from the music, from the talent, from the vision. — Hattie Collins

15. D Double E

Bluku! Bluku! For a generation of music fans, this is far more than a nonsensical exclamation—it’s one of many reasons D Double E is not only one of our most important MCs, but also possibly our most beloved. Sounding like a one-of-one chimera of ‘80s dancehall legend Eek-A-Mouse and an East End character, the N.A.S.T.Y Crew alumnus and Newham General (alongside partner in crime Footsie) is just as comfortable menacingly comparing birds to bullets as he is hosting a dance or radio sesh, perfectly embodying grime’s unique fusion of dancehall, rap and rave. The first thing you’ll notice is the flow—clever, fast paced and totally unbeholden to garage’s traditional styles, D Double emerged out of an era where originality was king, taking this tenet to extremes, to the point where decoding a verse often requires a crash course in the man’s one of a kind syntax. For years, Double was best enjoyed live, whether over DJ Mak 10’s endless supply of dubplates on Rinse FM or live on stage at Sidewinder, but in recent years he’s grown into a legacy artist with a healthy catalog of projects, evolving from an unparalleled host to a first-rate songwriter. In a space where importance is often correlated with screwfaces and self-seriousness, D Double E—aka your favourite barrer’s favourite barrer—is the guy you turn to when you want to be reminded of the reason you became invested in rhyming in the first place: fun! — Son Raw

Hear all 50 featured acts in this NBA 2K playlist (including D Double E’s “24/7” featured in NBA 2K22) .

14. Potter Payper

Potter Payper’s place on this list is secured several times over, if only for the disproportionate series of obstacles he’s had to overcome. Growing up on the infamous Gascoigne Estate and with a lengthy stint behind bars, behind him (not to mention the more recent, brief sentence he served that threatened to derail everything he’s built since…) Jamel Bousbaa has weathered it all. A good deal of that, of course, is down to sheer force of will, but that could have only got him so far had it not been for the generational talent he possesses. It’s been a long road to where he is today—a certified star with the unconditional backing of the Boateng twins at 0207 Def Jam—and although his talent was innate from the start, by his own admission, Potter was unpolished to begin with. Over the years, both in and out of prison, he learned some tough lessons. His Aylesbury Young Offenders cellmate, KB, helped him approve as a rapper; his manager, Bills, turned his music into a business; and now he enjoys the most fruitful period of his career. His writing’s better than ever, too, having swapped the street boasts that once put him behind bars for vivid, gritty realism, as much a reminder to himself as anyone else to move forward and never look back. — James Keith

13. Dizzee Rascal

It’s hard to sum up Dizzee Rascal’s career when he’s transitioned seamlessly through so many often-contradictory roles. Tastemakers present during grime’s birth celebrated him for his fiery contributions to pirate radio and the genre’s first classic album in Boy In Da Corner, but these same fans lamented his subsequent turn towards electro-pop, and the five number one singles that shift earned him. Likewise, while he’s often held up as grime’s golden child, he’s largely spent the last 20 years keeping the scene at arm’s length, alternately embracing the MCs who followed in his stead and refusing to be caught up in any purist orthodoxy. Above all, Dizzee is among the UK’s canniest synthesists, a man able to take Three 6 Mafia and Timbaland’s halftime riddims and marry them to garage just as easily as he combined big-room electro house to dance-ready pop-rap. Always marching to the beat of his own drum—whether at 140BPM or not—Dizzee epitomises grime and rap’s commitment to speaking one’s truth, no matter who it upsets, be that Anthony Blair in 2003 or comment section trolls in 2023. — Son Raw

A leading light among a generation of UK acts refusing to be shackled to strict and outdated genre conventions, Church Road star Nines’ ability to balance complex storytelling and vulnerability to commercially ambitious production, all without forcing a crossover hit, has forged him into one of London’s most impactful young rhymers. Cannily assimilating drill’s uncompromised authenticity without ever being boxed in by its flows and tempo, his dedication to personal storytelling and his ability to capture the realities of life on road set the pace for other artists within UK rap and drill seeking to explore nuanced songcraft. This ambition extends beyond music as well: Nines regularly demonstrates business savvy in ventures ranging from clothing to film production, and it's this elevation of pure artist to media mogul where he shines brightest, becoming London’s answer to American media superstars like Jay-Z and 50 Cent. Crucially however, Nines keeps things positive, with his lyrics examining his life’s circumstances with clarity and empathy. We now live in an era where the sky is the limit for young, talented UK rappers, and this potential is in large part because of Nines’ refusal to abide by the limits imposed on previous generations of rhymers. And the best part is, he’s nowhere near done yet. — Son Raw

11. Wretch 32

Wretch 32 has made a career out of adapting without compromising, first rising up in grime’s early years as part of the Combination Chain Gang with Wizzy Wow, Calibar and Shoka before teaming up with Ghetts, Scorcher, Devlin and Mercston as The Movement. He can build hype on a grime radio set, he can turn his hand to a pop hit if he fancies, but it’s on a rap beat that he really excels. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the on minimal road rap frostiness of Blade Brown’s “Runnin’” with Youngs Teflon, the dancefloor leanings of Wretchrospective , or the cool-headed self-reflection of FR32 , Wretch will give you gold every time. And there there are his six Fire In The Booth freestyles (five solo and one with Avelino), each time proving himself to be a formidable talent capable of balancing lyrical finesse with a quiet humility and easygoing charm. Take his 2015 session with Avelino, for example. More than just a top-level freestyle, this was Wretch: the elder statesman, reminding the young guns who’s boss while still elevating rather than eclipsing. As Creative Director at 0207 Def Jam, working closely with legendary UK music execs Alex and Alec Boateng, we see that version of Wretch writ large, personally helping to shape the next generation of talent. Having forged his path at a time when the music industry was far less welcoming of rap and without selling out or compromising on his art, few could be better positioned to guide the next wave. — James Keith

10. Little Simz

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Artists Who Are Going On Tour In 2024: The Rolling Stones, Drake, Olivia Rodrigo & More

The year is just getting started, but 2024 is already stacked with exciting tours. Open up your calendar and start planning with this sprawling list of announced 2024 tours.

Just a couple of years ago, live music still looked uncertain — would variant X, Y or Z derail the train for the umpteenth time? But in that regard, 2023 felt almost totally in the clear — and that's why it feels like the rubber band is stretched back for 2024, and it's ready to launch.

Sure, compiling every musical act who's touring in 2024 might be impossible. But GRAMMY.com's stylistic purview is far and wide: country, hardcore, soul, R&B, rap, indie rock, you name it. As such, we're giving it our best shot — and will continue to update the list as more tours are announced.

Without further ado, here's a major cross section of the 2024 touring landscape as currently announced — from Alvvays to Adam Ant , from Def Leppard to Danny Brown.

Laura Pausini : Laura Pausini World Tour Jan. 6 - April 6 North & Latin America

Italian singer (and the Latin Recording Academy's Person Of The Year) Laura Pausini is venturing through North & Latin America in the spring.

Slowdive Jan. 16 - May 18 U.S., Asia & Europe

The reunited shoegaze greats just released a well-loved new album, everything is alive — which is currently taking on new shades onstage. See them in 2024, on an extensive tour of Europe with Japan dates, and then a plethora of U.S. stops.

Madison Beer : The Spinnin Tour Jan. 17 - June 13 UK, Europe, & U.S.

The pop, hip-hop, EDM, and R&B star released Silence Between Songs in 2023; she'll support it with The Spinnin Tour, which heads stateside from Europe across the spring of 2024.

Drake with J.Cole : It's All A Blur - Big As The What? Jan. 18 - March 27 U.S.

Hip-hop kingpins Drake and J. Cole are headed on a co-headlining tour; some Drake gigs will be J.-Cole-less.

Ana Tijoux Jan. 18 - April 13 North America, UK, & Europe

Chilean musician Ana Tijoux hasn't undergone a world tour since 2018, but she's about to change that with a run of European gigs following the release of VIDA , her first album in several years. .

Melanie Martinez Jan. 19 - June 27 North America, Asia & Australia

Alt-popper Melanie Martinez will segue her PORTALS Tour into The Trilogy Tour, which will see her revive her alter ego "Cry Baby." See her, in this persona, in the U.S. and across the pond.

Mitski Jan. 26 - June 6 UK, Europe, & U.S.

Fresh off the release of The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We , Mitski has announced a jaunt across North America with Tamino, Sunny War, Julia Jacklin , and Sarah Kinsley.

Gloria Trevi: Mi Soundtrack World Tour Jan. 26 - Sept. 22 U.S.

Known as the "Supreme Diva of Mexican Pop," Gloria Trevi is embarking on a world tour to top off the year, as she has recently announced the first leg.

Tinashe : BB/ANG3L U.S. Tour Jan. 31 - Feb. 15 U.S.

Actress, dancer and singer Tinashe will support her new album, BB/ANG3L , with a run of mostly East Coast dates.

Militarie Gun Jan. 31 - June 1 North America

Fresh off a tour with Scowl, hardcore-adjacent, brilliantly melodic punks Militarie Gun continue their rise with a 2024 North American tour.

Mariah The Scientist: To Be Eaten Alive Tour Feb. 1 - May 4 UK, Europe, & U.S.

R&B favorite Mariah the Scientist has been raring to return to the stage: "I miss hearing my fans scream my lyrics at the top of their lungs. I miss seeing all their faces," Mariah told Rolling Stone . "I miss all the different cities. To my fans, I miss us. I'm so ready to eat you alive." She'll be in Europe and the U.S.

Marc Anthony : Viviendo Tour Feb. 9 - March 9 North America

Latin and Salsa star Marc Anthony can't hide his excitement for his upcoming tour: "See you in 2024 with many moments to write about," Mark shared in his Instagram tour announcement. "We are going to live nights like no other."

Juanes : Vida Cotidiana World Tour Feb. 13 - March 30 North America

In support of his Vida Cotidiana album, Colombian rock legend Juanes is making stops around North America to celebrate the project.

Los Angeles Azules : El Amor de mi Vida Tour Feb. 13 - April 20 U.S.

Marking their epic return to the United States, the Cumbia sibling group are kicking off their tour in support of their upcoming album —which is set to be released this year.

Jon Batiste : UNEASY Tour Feb. 16 - April 27 U.S.

Five-time GRAMMY winner and 20-time nominee Jon Batiste isn't known as a traditional touring act — extemporaneous solo performances and orchestral works tend to be his jam. That's what makes his upcoming North American tour so enticing — how will this consummate shape-shifter approach the headline-touring model?

Chelsea Cutler : The Beauty Is Everywhere Tour Feb. 16 - March 30 North America

Singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and engineer Chelsea Cutler has revealed a 2024 headline tour titled The Beauty Is Everywhere Tour, in support of her new album Stellaria .

Red Hot Chili Peppers : Unlimited Love Tour Feb. 17 - July 30 North America

The veteran rockers are still supporting 2022's Unlimited Love and Return of the Dream Canteen ; in 2024, they'll go out with Kid Cudi , Ice Cube , Ken Carson, Otoboke Beaver, Seun Kuti , Wand, and Irontom.

PinkPantheress: Capable of Love Tour Feb. 20 - April 30 North America, UK & Europe

The TikTok sensation turned pop phenomenon will head out on her Capable of Love Tour, following the release of her debut album Heaven Knows . Rising artists Bktherula and Kanii will join her.

Niall Horan Feb. 21 - July 31 North America, Europe, & Australia

The Irish singer/songwriter has announced "THE SHOW" LIVE ON TOUR 2024 – his biggest tour yet and first headline run since 2018's Flicker world tour.

Bad Bunny - Most Wanted Tour Feb. 21 - May 26 U.S.

Bad Bunny's Most Wanted Tour will take him across 47 dates across North America — including three shows in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.

Olivia Rodrigo : 2024 Tour Feb. 23 - Aug. 14 UK, Europe, & U.S.

Olivia Rodrigo will make a jaunt around the world with support from the Breeders, Chappell Roan and Pink Pantheress.

Sampha : North America 2024 Tour Feb. 23 - April 14 North America & Australia

South London singer/songwriter Sampha recently released a music video for "Can't Go Back," from his new album, Lahai . With it come North American dates for 2024.

Mon Laferte : Autopoiética Tour Feb. 29 - June 2 U.S. & Latin America

Chilean artist Mon Laferte's new album, Autopoiética , has been released to a clamorous response. In 2024, she'll bring the music across Latin America and the U.S.

Idles Feb. 29 - Dec. 7 North America, UK, & Europe

The purveyors of wild-eyed rock have extended their previously announced 2024 international tour with new dates across North America, Mexico, the UK, and Ireland.

Styx & Foreigner : Renegades & Juke Box Heroes Tour March 1 - Nov. 9 North America

Don't miss this classic rock heroes together, for the last time ever. Check out dates, along with heartfelt statements from both bands.

Nicki Minaj : Pink Friday 2 Tour March 1 - June 7 UK, Europe, & U.S.

The Harajuku Barbie is back with a new album, Pink Friday 2 , which landed Dec. 8. How will tunes like "Super Freaky Girl" and "Last Time I Saw You" translate to the stage? Don't miss her North American and European tour , which stretches from late March to early June.

Danny Brown: Quaranta '24 Tour March 3 - April 14 North America

The idiosyncratic MC is riding high off the release of his introspective new album, Quaranta . He's heading across North America in support of it.

Don Omar March 7 - April 21 North America

The reggaeton pioneer has announced he will be back in arenas in 2024 and bringing fans "Back to Reggaeton," a 20-date trek across North America that spans the artist's decades-long career.

Judas Priest : Invisible Shield Tour March 11 - May 22 Europe, UK, & U.S.

Metal titans Judas Priest are still going strong; they just announced a Spring 2024 U.S. tour with supporting act abaton.

Busta Rhymes March 13 - April 21 North America

Rap heavyweight Busta Rhymes has announced his Blockbusta Tour, which will bring him across the U.S. and Canada starting in March.

Tim McGraw : 2024 Standing Room Only Tour March 14 - June 27 U.S.

The country great's upcoming jaunt kicks off on March 14 and will stop through more than 40 cities. Carly Pearce will be a special guest.

Bleachers: From The Studio To The Stage March 19 - June 15 U.S. & UK

In late spring and early summer 2024, the Jack Antonoff -led rockers are hitting the road in support of their self-titled new album, which arrives March 8.

Tyla March 21 - May 28 UK, Europe, & U.S.

The unstoppable, GRAMMY-nominated R&B, amapiano singer Tyla will venture across the UK and Europe in spring 2024.

Adam Ant : ANTMUSIC Tour March 21 - May 11 U.S.

English post-punk and new wave legend Adam Ant is headed out on his ANTMUSIC tour, his first U.S. trek in five years. The day after it wraps up, he'll appear at the Cruel World 2024 festival.

The Slackers April 4 - April 14 North America

The revered, long-time purveyors of ska, reggae, dub and more have announced a spring tour across the US and Canada.

Alvvays : US Spring Tour 2024 April 4 - Aug. 8 North America, UK, & Europe

The indie darlings will traverse the United States in April and May, then head to Europe in late June for festival dates.

Tate Mcrae : Think Later World Tour April 17 - Nov 21 North America, UK, Europe, & Australia

Multi-platinum singer/songwriter Tate McRae will support her second album, THINK LATER , with a world tour in 2024.

The Rolling Stones : Hackney Diamonds Tour April 18 - July 17 North America

If the Rolling Stones ' secret NYC show with Lady Gaga was any indication, the Stones' stadium run around Hackney Diamonds — their first album of new material in 18 years — will be one for the books. For now, only stateside shows have been announced, but keep your eyes peeled for an expansion.

Hozier : Unreal Unearth Tour April 20 - Sept. 17 U.S.

Singer/songwriter Hozier is undertaking a headline tour of the UK and Ireland next summer, supporting his third album Unreal Unearth .

Alanis Morissette with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts : Triple Moon Tour June 9 - Aug. 10 North America

Two female pioneers are hitting the road, with special guest Morgan Wade. See where they're heading in the U.S. and Canada.

Pink : Summer Carnival Tour 2024 June 11 - Nov. 23 North America, UK, & Europe

Pink will continue to support her new album Trustfall with her Summer Carnival tour, which returns to North America in 2024. 

The Killers June 12 - July 11 UK & Ireland

The Killers have reached that stage where they're looking back on the hits. Following the recent release of their best-of compilation album Rebels Diamonds , shout along at these UK and Ireland dates .

Def Leppard , Journey , Steve Miller : 2024 Summer Stadium Tour July 6 - Sept. 8 U.S.

More oldies favorites, banding together for a U.S. stadium tour in 2024: Def Leppard and Journey will be near you soon. In select markets, Heart and Cheap Trick will also appear.

Earth Wind & Fire and Chicago : Heart & Soul Tour 2024 July 10 - Sept. 7 U.S.

These retro, AOR favorites are hitting the road together for the Heart & Soul Tour 2024, including an encore with both bands on stage. Check out the North American dates.

Sepultura : Farewell Tour Oct. 30 - Nov. 23 UK & Europe

The Brazilian metal heroes are calling it quits — but not before a final trek, just in time for their 40th anniversary.

GRAMMY Rewind: Foo Fighters Win A GRAMMY For "Walk," The Song They Recorded In Dave Grohl's Garage

Photo: Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Chappell Roan's Big Year: The 'Midwest Princess' Examines How She Became A Pop "Feminomenon"

Just after Chappell Roan made her festival debut at Coachella, hear from the pop starlet about some of the defining moments of her career thus far — and how it all helped earn her a spot at one of music's biggest fests.

Before this year, Chappell Roan had never even been to Coachella. Now, not only can she say she's attended — she's performed in the desert, too. 

Roan played an evening set on the Gobi Stage on April 12, and is set to return for Weekend 2. Fans clad in everything from cowboy boots, Sandy Liang-inspired bows and, perhaps most importantly, jorts, gathered to celebrate their shared love of Roan's radiance, karmic kink and gay cowgirl doctrine.  

Throughout her performance, bubbles breezed through the air as Roan belted out her infectious (and aptly titled) track "Femininomenon," which speaks to lover girls forced to live in an online-dating hellscape. "Ladies, you know what I mean?/ And you know what you need and so does he/ But does it happen? No!" Following collective screams of pure joy, the already enlivened crowd roused to match Roan beat-for-beat, shouting back in perfect unison, "Well, what we really need is a femininomenon!" 

In an era of bedroom pop and sad-girl music, Roan has been hailed by both critics and fans for bringing fun back to pop music. Along with her staunch sense of self, Roan's penchant for explicit lyrics that are equally parts introspective and horny makes her dance-pop anthems all the more infectious. 

Roan's ambitiously experimental debut album, 2023's The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess , cemented her status as one of the most exciting pop stars on the rise. While she only recently landed her first single on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Good Luck, Babe!," her rapidly growing fan base — and an opening slot on Olivia Rodrigo's sold-out GUTS World Tour — indicate that she's on her way to superstardom .

Perhaps part of Roan's magic is that it was all on her own terms. After parting ways with her first label, Atlantic Records, she built a loyal following as an independent artist before signing with Island Records last year. Even as a major label artist, she's determined to only do things her way; her indefatigable commitment to her craft — as well as writing her own rules when it comes to fashion and makeup — is precisely why her fans are so enraptured by both her music and persona. 

Her fearlessness was on full display during her first Coachella set, where the words emblazoned on her bodysuit read "Eat Me." She talks the talk, and walks the walk (in fabulous, knee-high boots, of course), matching her unabashed aesthetic with equally bold career moves; for one, the openers for her headlining tour are local drag queens.

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With eyeliner winged to the heavens, near-perfect vocal stability and fiery curls ablaze, Roan's shimmering Coachella Weekend 1 performance proved that her stage presence is equally dynamic. And if she had any doubters, she had one thing to say to them: "B—, I know you're watching!" 

In between rehearsals for her Coachella debut, Roan took a look back on her journey to one of music's most coveted stages. Below, hear from Roan about five of the most impactful milestones in her career — so far. 

Releasing Her Debut Album, The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess

I ended up signing [with Island Records in 2023] because this project honestly got too big to be independent anymore. I just wasn't willing to give up anything, any creative control or for any amount of money. 

Being an independent artist was really special because I proved to myself that I could do all these hard things that I had never done. I built it with an entire friend group and many, many years of work. So it wasn't just me, but it proved a lot to me.

It proved I can make it through hard circumstances — with no money. You truly can. You do not need a label to do a lot of what an artist's career requires. You don't need a label to put on your own show, or make a music video, or even write a song, or find creative people. You don't need that s—t. I mean, a label is just money, you know? You don't need a lot of money to do this. To make it grow is, I think, where it takes a lot of money. That's what was difficult.

Music allows me to express anything, even things that I've never experienced before. It allows me to express queerness, even if it was only daydreams at that point. It allows me to express parts of me that I'm not even ready to accept yet.

I don't give a f— if you don't  f— with the music. You don't have to come to the concert. That's the whole point of it. You don't have to like it. I think throughout the year, I'm like, "What can I get away with?" Because right now it's pretty tame for what it is like to be a gay artist. But I just want to push it to see how far can I go — with the most controversial outfits or things to rile people up. I'm not really afraid to do that.

Having a song [like "Casual] with the lyric, "Knee deep in the passenger seat/ And you're eating me out," and it's being considered to go to radio. That's kind of a big thing to get away with. 

It's not even that big of a thing. What's that song? Is it Flo Rida ? That's like, "Can you blow my whistle, baby/ whistle baby." Okay, that's obviously about like a f—ing blowjob. [ Laughs .] No one cares about that. To me, I'm like, Let's talk about eating out on the radio . I actually think it has to be bleeped, but still, if I can get away with it, that's cool.

Feeling Financial Freedom & Stability

Not making money at all just sucked. But I learned how to do my own makeup and bedazzle and sew a little bit. I think that the scrappiness came from [the idea that] it's scrappy if it's fun. 

I think that's what kept me going — because if this wasn't fun, I would not even be here. But it was scrappy and fun, and it was with my friends. It didn't feel dire. I was also just working at a coffee shop, and I was a nanny, and I was working at a donut shop. I was doing part time jobs all on the side too. So it was all just rough [in the beginning].

I have freedom because now [singing] is my full-time job. It provides for me now. As the project grows, I can do bigger shows and be like, I want outfit changes now , and I want more lights, and I want confetti . I can afford confetti now! 

It's about expanding the universe in a thoughtful way. And not just like throwing a s— ton of money at things to make things look expensive or wear all this designer s— for no reason. 

I just try to look at how we are starting to gain momentum financially and see how can I intentionally use that to, one, pay the team in a way where they're not bare bones anymore, and two, [ask ourselves] how can we honor this project and this album and the queer community? Can we pay drag queens more? Can we bring drag on the road? Now, financially, doors have opened where we can walk through them with love and intention. Just recklessly, throwing money at s— to see if it works. 

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Opening Olivia Rodrigo's Arena Tour

Olivia [Rodrigo] just asked. It was official, we went through our management. But I was like, Oh my God . 

Preparing a 40-minute set is a different vibe than headlining, obviously. You are going out to an audience that is not there for you and doesn't necessarily care if you're there or not.

This is, like, my fourth or fifth artist I've opened for. But for an arena tour, I just needed to gather my nerves. I think that's the difference between any other show. Like, F—, there's 20,000 people out there right now. I've never performed in front of that many people. I don't know what this emotion is, and I just have to tame it right now.

Standing Up For Herself Creatively, Even When There's Pushback

I stand up for myself, I would say, every day. Sometimes, you get this opportunity, a huge opportunity with a lot of money on the table. [Yet,] I'm just like, That just doesn't make sense creatively. That doesn't align with my values. I'm not doing that.  

One huge creative decision was I stood up and pushed the entire headlining Midwest Princess tour back to the fall. The album was supposed to come out while we were on tour. I was like, "This is a horrible idea!" 

That caused a big ruckus, but it ended up being fine, and I was right. I'm usually right. [ Laughs .] It's like a mother with her kid — a mother knows best. I feel like [that] when it comes to the integrity of my project.

I know how it is to not be able to afford a ticket or even f—ing food. A concert ticket, a lot of times, means multiple meals for someone. I get it, I couldn't afford some artists' tickets. That's why it's really important to me to try to keep them as low as I can and my merch as low as I can. 

There's pushback of ticket prices being low and we're playing rooms that are so expensive. The fee to even play them is so expensive. So, you have to raise the ticket prices to just even be able to afford to play the room. There's always an argument [with my team] there, every tour. I'm in control of stuff and if I'm saying this is how it's going to be —- it's just going to be that way.

Performing At Coachella For The First Time 

[After the first weekend of Coachella] I am feeling very relieved. I was so stressed about many things. How is the outfit going to work? Will the crowd really be engaged? It went so well, I have no qualms with anything. I loved every second of it.

It feels like I am partying with [my fans]. I am not performing to them; I’m performing with them. [I want people to remember] a really fun, freeing show. Very campy but very meaningful too. 

4 Ways Olivia Rodrigo's GUTS World Tour Shows A New Side Of The Pop Princess

Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation

10 Record Store Day 2024 Releases We're Excited About: The Beatles, Notorious B.I.G. & More

In honor of Record Store Day 2024, which falls on April 20, learn about 10 limited, exclusive drops to watch out for when browsing your local participating record store.

From vinyl records by the 1975 and U2 , to album reissues and previously unreleased music, record stores around the world are stocking limited and exclusive releases for Record Store Day 2024 . 

The first Record Store Day kicked off in 2008 and every year since, the event supporting independently owned record stores has grown exponentially. On Record Store Day 2024, which falls on April 20, there will be more than 300 special releases available from artists as diverse as  the Beatles and Buena Vista Social Club. 

In honor of Record Store Day 2024 on April 20, here are 10 limited and exclusive drops to watch out for when browsing your local participating record store. 

David Bowie — Waiting in the Sky (Before The Starman Came To Earth

British glam rocker David Bowie was a starman and an icon. Throughout his career, he won five GRAMMY Awards and was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. 

On RSD 2024, Bowie's estate is dialing it back to his Ziggy Stardust days to make Waiting in the Sky (Before The Starman Came To Earth) available for the first time. The record features recordings of Bowie's sessions at Trident Studios in 1971, and many songs from those sessions would be polished for his 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars . 

The tracklisting for Waiting in the Sky differs from Ziggy Stardust and features four songs that didn’t make the final album.

Talking Heads — Live at WCOZ 77

New York City-based outfit Talking Heads defined the sound of new wave in the late '70s and into the next decade. For their massive influence, the group received two GRAMMY nominations and was later honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021.

While promoting their debut album Talking Heads: 77 , the quartet recorded a live performance for the New Albany, Pennsylvania radio station WCOZ in 1977. The Live at WCOZ 77 LP will include 14 songs from that performance at Northern Studios, including seven that will be released for the first time. Among the previously unheard cuts are " Love Goes To A Building On Fire" and "Uh-Oh, Love Comes To Town." During that session, Talking Heads also performed songs like "Psycho Killer" and "Pulled Up."

The Doors — Live at Konserthuset, Stockholm, September 20, 1968

The Doors were at the forefront of the psychedelic rock movement of the 1960s and early '70s. One of Jim Morrison 's most epic performances with the band will be available on vinyl for the first time. 

Live at Konserthuset, Stockholm, September 20, 1968 includes recordings from a radio broadcast that was never commercially released. The 3-LP release includes performances of songs from the Doors’ first three albums, including 1967’s self-titled and Strange Days . In addition to performing their classics like "Light My Fire" and "You're Lost Little Girl," the Doors and Morrison also covered "Mack the Knife" and Barret Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)" live during this session. 

Dwight Yoakam — The Beginning And Then Some: The Albums of the '80s

Over the course of his 40-year career, country music icon Dwight Yoakam has received 18 GRAMMY nominations and won two golden gramophones for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1994 and Best Country Collaboration with Vocals in 2000.

On Record Store Day 2024, Yoakam will celebrate the first chapter of his legacy with a new box set: The Beginning And Then Some: The Albums of the '80s . His debut album Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. and 1987’s Hillbilly Deluxe will be included in the collection alongside exclusive disc full of rarities and demos. The 4-LP set includes his classics like "Honky Tonk Man," "Little Ways," and "Streets of Bakersfield." The box set will also be available to purchase on CD.  

The Beatles — The Beatles Limited Edition RSD3 Turntable

Beatlemania swept across the U.S. following the Beatles’ first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in February 1964, setting the stage for the British Invasion. With The Beatles Limited Edition RSD3 Turntable , the band will celebrate their iconic run of appearances on Sullivan’s TV program throughout that year.

The box set will include a Beatles-styled turntable and four 3-inch records. Among those records are the hits "I Want To Hold Your Hand," "Till There Was You," "She Loves You," and "I Saw Her Standing There," which the Beatles performed on Sullivan's TV across several appearances. 

Among 23 GRAMMY nominations, the Beatles won seven golden gramophones. In 2014, the Recording Academy honored them with the Lifetime Achievement Award.   

Olivia Rodrigo and Noah Kahan — From The BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge LP

Olivia Rodrigo and Noah Kahan are two of the biggest pop stars in the world right now — Rodrigo hitting the stage with No Doubt at Coachella and near the end of her global GUTS Tour ; Kahan fresh off a Best New Artist nomination at the 2024 GRAMMYs. Now, they're teaming up for the split single From The BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge LP , a release culled from each artist's "BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge" sessions. 

The special vinyl release will include Rodrigo's live cover of Kahan's breakout hit "Stick Season." The single also includes Kahan’s cover of Rodrigo’s song "Lacy" from her second album, GUTS . This month, they performed the song live together on Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour stop in Madison Square Garden.  

Buena Vista Social Club — Buena Vista Social Club

Influential Cuban group Buena Vista Social Club popularized genres and sounds from their country, including son cubano, bolero, guajira, and danzón. Buena Vista Social Club's landmark self-titled LP won the GRAMMY for Best Tropical Latin Album in 1998.

The following year, a documentary was released that captured two of the band's live performances in New York City and Amsterdam. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the documentary, the Buena Vista Social Club album will be released on a limited edition gold vinyl with remastered audio and bonus tracks.

Buena Vista Social Club is one of the 10 recordings to be newly inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame as part of the 2024 inductee class.

Danny Ocean — 54+1

Venezuelan reggaeton star Danny Ocean broke through on a global level in 2016 with his self-produced debut single "Me Rehúso," a heartbreaking track inspired by Ocean fleeing Venezuela due to the country's economic instability and the lover he had left behind. 

With "Me Rehúso," Ocean became the first solo Latin artist to surpass one billion streams on Spotify, on the platform with a single song. "Me Rehúso" was included on his 2019 debut album 54+1 , which will be released on vinyl for the first time for Record Store Day.

Lee "Scratch" Perry & The Upsetters — Skanking With The Upsetter

Jamaican producer Lee "Scratch" Perry pioneered dub music in the 1960s and '70s. Perry received five GRAMMY nominations in his lifetime, including winning Best Reggae Album in 2003 for Jamaican E.T.

To celebrate the legacy of Perry's earliest dub recordings, a limited edition run of his 2004 album Skanking With The Upsetter will be released on Record Store Day. His joint LP with his house band the Upsetters will be pressed on transparent yellow vinyl. Among the rare dub tracks on the album are "Bucky Skank," "Seven & Three Quarters (Skank)," and "IPA Skank." 

Read more: Lee "Scratch" Perry Documentary Director Sets The Record Straight On The Reggae Icon's Legacy — Including A Big Misconception About Bob Marley

Notorious B.I.G. — Ready To Die: The Instrumentals

The Notorious B.I.G. helped define the sound of East Coast rap in the '90s. Though he was tragically murdered in 1997, his legacy continues to live on through his two albums. 

During his lifetime, the Notorious B.I.G. dropped his 1994 debut album Ready to Die , which is widely considered to be one of the greatest hip-hop releases of all-time. In honor of the 30th anniversary of the album (originally released in September '94), his estate will release Ready To Die: The Instrumentals . The limited edition vinyl will include select cuts from the LP like his hits "Big Poppa," "One More Chance/Stay With Me," and "Juicy." The album helped him garner his first GRAMMY nomination in 1996 for Best Rap Solo Performance. The Notorious B.I.G. received an additional three nominations after his death in 1998. 

10 Smaller Music Festivals Happening In 2024: La Onda, Pitchfork Music Fest, Cruel World & More

Photo: Adali Schell

How Andrew Watt Became Rock's Big Producer: His Work With Paul McCartney, Ozzy Osbourne, Pearl Jam, & More

Andrew Watt cut his teeth with pop phenoms, but lately, the 2021 Producer Of The Year winner has been in demand among rockers — from the Rolling Stones and Blink-182 to Elton John.

While in a studio, Andrew Watt bounces off the walls. Just ask Mick Jagger , who once had to gently tell the 33-year-old, "Look, I can deal with this, but when you meet Ronnie and Keith , you have to dial it down a little bit."

Or ask Pearl Jam 's Stone Gossard . "He really got the best out of [drummer] Matt [Cameron] just by being excited — literally jumping up and down and pumping his fist and running around," he tells GRAMMY.com.

As Watt's hot streak has burned on, reams have rightly been written about his ability to take a legacy act, reconnect them with their essence, and put a battery in their back. His efficacy can be seen at Music's Biggest Night: Ozzy Osbourne 's Patient Number 9 won Best Rock Album at the 2023 GRAMMYs . At the last ceremony, the Rolling Stones were nominated for Best Rock Song, for Hackney Diamonds ' opener "Angry."

On Pearl Jam's return to form, Dark Matter , due out April 19. Who was behind the desk? Take a wild guess.

"You want to see them live more than you want to listen to their albums, and they have the ability to look at each other and play and follow each other. I don't like my rock music any other way, as a listener," Watt tells GRAMMY.com. "All my favorite records are made like that — of people speeding up, slowing down, playing longer than they should."

As such, Watt had a lightbulb moment: to not record any demos, and have them write together in the room. "They're all playing different stuff, and it makes up what Pearl Jam is, and singer Eddie [Vedder] rides it like a wave."

If you're more of a pop listener, there's tons of Watt for you — he's worked with Justin Bieber ("Hit the Ground" from Purpose ), Lana Del Rey ("Doin' Time" from Norman F—ing Rockwell ) and much more. Read on for a breakdown of big name rockers who have worked with Andrew Watt.

Pearl Jam / Eddie Vedder

Watt didn't just produce Dark Matter ; he also helmed Vedder's well-received third solo album, Earthling , from 2022. Watt plays guitar in Vedder's live backing band, known as the Earthlings — which also includes Josh Klinghoffer , who replaced John Frusciante in the Red Hot Chili Peppers for a stint.

The Rolling Stones

Dark Matter was a comeback for Pearl Jam, but Hackney Diamonds was really a comeback for the Stones . While it had a hater or two , the overwhelming consensus was that it was the Stones' best album in decades — maybe even since 1978's Some Girls .

"I hope what makes it fresh and modern comes down to the way it's mixed, with focus on low end and making sure the drums are big," Watt, who wore a different Stones shirt every day in the studio, has said about Hackney Diamonds . "But the record is recorded like a Stones album."

Where there are modern rock flourishes on Hackney Diamonds , "There's no click tracks. There's no gridding. There's no computer editing," he continued. "This s— is performed live and it speeds up and slows down. It's made to the f—ing heartbeat connection of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Steve Jordan.

"And Charlie ," Watt added, tipping a hat to Watts, who played on Hackney Diamonds but died before it came out. "When Charlie's on it."

Ever since he first picked up a mic and removed his shirt, the snapping junkyard dog of the Stooges has stayed relevant — as far as indie, alternative and punk music has been concerned.

But aside from bright spots like 2016's Josh Homme -produced Post Pop Depression , his late-career output has felt occasionally indulgent and enervated. The 11 songs on 2023's eclectic Watt-produced Every Loser , on the other hand, slap you in the face in 11 different ways.

"We would jam and make tracks and send them to Iggy, and he would like 'em and write to them or wouldn't like them and we'd do something else," Watt told Billboard . "It was very low pressure. We just kept making music until we felt like we had an album." (And as with Pearl Jam and Vedder's Earthlings band, Watt has rocked out onstage with Pop .

Ozzy Osbourne

You dropped your crown, O Prince of Darkness. When he hooked up with Watt, the original Black Sabbath frontman hadn't released any solo music since 2010's Scream; in 2017, Sabbath finally said goodbye after 49 years and 10 (!) singers.

On 2020's Ordinary Man and 2022's Patient Number 9 , Watt reenergized Ozzy; even when he sounds his age, Ozz sounds resolute, defiant, spitting in the face of the Reaper. (A bittersweet aside: the late Taylor Hawkins appears on Patient Number 9 , which was written and recorded in just four days .)

Yeah, yeah, they're more of a pop -rock band, but they have guitars, bass and drums. (And if you're the type of rock fan who's neutral or hostile to the 5, you shouldn't be; Songs About Jane slaps.)

At any rate, Watt co-produced "Can't Leave You Alone," featuring Juice WRLD , from 2021's Jordi . Critics disparaged the album, but showed Watt's facility straddling the pop and rock worlds.

5 Seconds of Summer

When it comes to Andrew Watt, the Sydney pop-rockers — slightly more on the rock end than Maroon 5 and their ilk — are repeat customers. He produced a number of tracks for 5 Seconds of Summer, which spanned 2018's Youngblood , 2020's Calm and 2022's 5SOS5 .

Regarding the former: Watt has cited Youngblood as one of the defining recording experiences of his life.

"I had started working with 5 Seconds of Summer, and a lot of people looked at them as a boy band, but they're not," Watt told Guitar Player . "They're all incredible musicians. They can all play every instrument. They love rock music. They can harmonize like skyrockets in flight. They just were making the wrong kind of music."

So Watt showed 5 Seconds of Summer a number of mainstays of the rock era, like Tears for Fears and the Police . The rest, as they say, is history.

A year after Britney Spears was unshackled from her highly controversial conservatorship, it was time for a victory lap with the God of Glitter. What resulted was a curious little bauble, which became a megahit: "Hold Me Closer," a spin on "Tiny Dancer," "The One" and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" that briefly launched Spears back into the stratosphere.

"Britney came in and she knew what she wanted to do," Watt recalled to The L.A. Times . "We sped up the song a little bit and she sang the verses in her falsetto, which harkens back to 'Toxic.' She was having a blast."

Watt has also worked with pop/punk heroes Blink-182 — but not after Tom DeLonge made his grand return. He produced "I Really Wish I Hated You" from 2019's Nine , back when Matt Skiba was in the band.

Where in the rock world will this tender-aged superproducer strike next? Watt knows.

Songbook: The Rolling Stones' Seven-Decade Journey To Hackney Diamonds

Photo: VALERIE MACON / AFP) (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

Coachella 2024 Weekend 1 Recap: 20 Surprises And Special Moments, From Billie Eilish & Lana Del Rey To Olivia Rodrigo With No Doubt

Weekend 1 of Coachella 2024 is a wrap, and the internet can’t stop talking about it. Here are 20 surprises and special moments from Coachella so far, including inspired team-ups, wackadoo moments in the clutch, and much more.

It may be hard to believe, but Weekend 1 of Coachella 2024 is already over. Clearly, time flies when you’re having fun — particularly when beholding the world’s leading artists, convened in the Indio desert in California.

If you weren’t there, the festival was filmed, of course. You can enjoy Coachella from the comfort of your own home, sans-sunburn, undrenched with champagne.

As you survey Coachella’s sold-out first weekend, read on for 20 performances, debuts and moments that surprised and touched us from Coachella Weekend 1.

Lana Del Rey's Headlining Set Brought Out GRAMMY Winners Billie Eilish, Jon Batiste & Jack Antonoff

After rolling deep up to her desert set on a fleet of motorcycles for her Friday performance, Lana Del Rey infused her iconic sad-girl pop persona into every facet of her Gatsby-esque performance.  Her headlining set also included some special GRAMMY-winning guests: Jon Batiste and 2024 Producer Of The Year Jack Antonoff both accompanied on piano, while Billie Eilish joined her idol on stage for duet performances of "Ocean Eyes" and "Video Games." Sharing a moment with her hero on stage at the end of the set, Eilish declared, "This is the reason for half you bitches’ existence, including mine.”

Tyler, The Creator Brings Out Childish Gambino, A$AP Rocky, Kali Uchis and Charlie Wilson

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Saturday's main stage event kicked off with a ruckus 80-minute set by creative magnet Tyler, The Creator , who transformed the stage into an ever-changing desert scene to host fellow performers.

First up, Childish Gambino hit the stage to perform a duet of "Running Out of Time," before A$AP Rocky joined for a performance of two tracks, "Potato Salad" and "Who Dat Boy."

Tyler admitted he once saw both as rivals, but now considers them friends. Kali Uchis also returned to the desert stage with Tyler for a quick appearance as well as legendary singer/songwriter Charlie Wilson , who made an unexpected appearance to accompany Tyler on a laid-back version of "EARFQUAKE." 

No Doubt Made Their Grand Re-Entrance (With Olivia Rodrigo!)

.body-text { max-width: inherit; } .body-text strong > a { font-weight: 600; } No Doubt electrified Coachella with their first performance in nine years , featuring all original members and a blend of eclectic hits that defined their career. Their memorable reunion set highlighted their timeless appeal and was punctuated by a surprise appearance from pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo for a duet performance of No Doubt classic, "Bathwater." Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Show Up To Support Ice Spice And Jack Antonoff's Bleachers The Queen of Pop, Taylor Swift herself, showed up on Sunday with her boyfriend Travis Kelce among the crowds to support her friends: producer and Bleachers band member Jack Antonoff and Eras tourmate Ice Spice .  Will Smith Joined J Balvin For The “Men In Black” Theme .body-text { max-width: inherit; } .body-text strong > a { font-weight: 600; } .body-text { max-width: inherit; } .body-text strong > a { font-weight: 600; } What slap? Last year, Will Smith appeared at “A GRAMMY Salute To 50 Years Of Hip Hop” as one half of DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. And at Coachella 2024, the world was treated to another throwback, as he and four-time GRAMMY nominee J Balvin performed the immortal theme to Men in Black . Doja Cat Brought Out A$AP Rocky, 21 Savage and Teezo Touchdown GRAMMY winner and 19-time nominee Doja Cat turned in a performance heavy on rap — and also puppet dinosaurs. As per the former, A$AP Rocky, 21 Savage and Teezo Touchdown touched down, collaborating with Doja on “Urrrge,” “N.H.I.E.,” and “Masc,” respectively. Ice Spice Previewed A New Song Onstage Something’s stirring in Ice Spiceworld. At Coachella, she wowed with her live debut of a new song that sampled Sean Paul ’s 2005 track “Gimme the Light.” (She closed out with “Think U the Shit (Fart).”) As reported earlier in April , Ice Spice is going to make her acting debut in Spike Lee ’s new movie High and Low , starring Denzel Washington .  Peso Pluma Made His Coachella Debut ¡Corridos tumbados de por vida! In the wake of his big wi n at the 2024 GRAMMYs — Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano), for GÉNESIS — Peso Pluma lit up Coachella 2024 with that signature fusion of folky guitar ballads and modern hip-hop, with special guests including Becky G and Arcángel . Lil Uzi Vert Previewed A New Song Onstage Ice Spice wasn’t the only act to preview new material at Coachella 2024. Enter four-time GRAMMY nominee Lil Uzi Vert, who performed a hypnotic and — again — unnamed track, one that seemed to be tailor-made for Coachella. A Mini-Fugees Reunion Went Down (Thanks To YG Marley) Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean are no strangers to reigniting the Fugees spirit onstage — they did so at Essence Fest 2022, while GRAMMY.com was reporting on site . This time, they kept it in the family; during Hill’s son YG Marley’s set, both Fugees came out, playing classics like “Killing Me Softly.” (The embattled Pras wasn’t present.) Blur Announced This Was Their Last Performance Together .tweet-container iframe { width: 100% !important; } .body-text { max-width: inherit; } .body-text strong > a { font-weight: 600; } Social media is currently abuzz at the allegedly unresponsive audience for Blur — but what’s a viral, out-of-context clip supposed to prove, anyway? Whatever the case may be, after their rollicking set, Damon Albarn and company declared that the Britpop icons were entering another hiatus. Bizarrap Brought Out Shakira .body-text { max-width: inherit; } .body-text strong > a { font-weight: 600; } View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coachella (@coachella)

Mega-watt Argentine producer Bizarrap brought his BZRP Music Sessions to the Coachella stage and included a surprise appearance from superstar Shakira .

Shakira and Bizarrap won the Latin GRAMMY for Song Of The Year at the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs for "Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53," a featured track on her fresh-out-the-trap album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran . 

Billie Eilish Threw A Special “Billie & Friends” Party & Hyped Up The Crowd With The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside”

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After surprising fans during Lana Del Rey 's Friday set, Billie Eilish treated fans and special guests to a preview of her new album, Hit Me Hard and Soft at the Do LaB Stage on Saturday night.

The previewed songs were well-received by an enthusiastic set of attendees who were introduced to yet-to-debut tracks "“Lunch,” "L’Amour De Ma Vie," and "Chihiro." 

"Yo Gabba Gabba!" Showed Up To The Aquabats’ Pool Party

Christian Jacobs, lead singer of the Aquabats, co-created the "Yo Gabba Gabba!" TV show — and the colorful cast of costumed characters showed up to their pool party! This marks yet another example of ska picking up at Coachella — see the transcendent No Doubt and Sublime performances.

Sublime Made Their Coachella Debut With Jakob Nowell

As you may have read , Sublime are back, against the odds — not with Rome, but with Jakob Nowell , original Sublime frontman Bradley’s son. (It must be said: Bradley died at 28, ending the band’s original run; as he takes the guitar and mic, Jakob himself is 28.)

Speaking of the guitar — he wielded his old man’s, in an emotional and electrifying set that proved these songs’ durability and beyond.

Vampire Weekend Brought Paris Hilton Onstage To Play Cornhole

.body-text { max-width: inherit; } .body-text strong > a { font-weight: 600; } Life imitates Mad Libs! The beloved indie rockers are out promoting their new album, 2024’s Only God Was Above Us — and who better to cheerlead than the one and only Paris Hilton, to play the classic bean bag game with the crew? Dom Dolla Brought Out Nelly Furtado .body-text { max-width: inherit; } .body-text strong > a { font-weight: 600; } View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coachella (@coachella)

Dance/electronic sensation Dom Dolla returned to Coachella for a charged set featuring festival first-timer Nelly Furtado who joined to perform their GRAMMY-nominated track, "Eat Your Man."

Furtado gave her all during the rousing performance, a testament to the duo's synergy after Dom Dolla brought the singer out of a six year hiatus to work together on the song.

Sky Ferreira Made A Surprise Appearance With Kevin Abstract

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If Sky Ferreira seems like an unlikely candidate to belt out a Lady A hit, think again. The singer/songwriter brought newfound heft to the five-time GRAMMY winners’ classic hit, “Need You Now,” with Kevin Abstract.

Does this foreshadow a reappraisal of the country mainstays’ catalog? Once the dust settles re: the ska revival, we’ll have that conversation.

Kesha Showed Up To Rock With Reneé Rapp (And Diss A Certain Disgraced Rapper)

“Wake up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy ,” Kesha once rapped, in her inescapable 2009 hit “Tik Tok.” Well, that didn’t age well, and Kesha knew that. So she changed “P. Diddy” to “me” — and if that’s just going to be the official lyric now, that’s fine by the music industry. Reneé Rapp, of Mean Girls fame , bolstered her.

Mac DeMarco Joined Forces With Lil Yachty

Mac DeMarco’s been a savvy chameleon at this stage in his career, prioritizing brainy collaborations over typical album release cycles.

He has two songwriting credits on Yachty ’s game changing 2023 album Let’s Start Here , and during Yachty’s performance, he showed up to perform two of his song songs: “On The Level,” from 2017’s This Old Dog , and “Chamber of Reflection,” from his decade-old album Salad Days .

Additional reporting by Nina Frazier.

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Is Usher going on tour in the UK?

18 March 2024, 09:18

Kim Kardashian has confessions for Usher in Super Bowl promo

By Anna Suffolk

Will Usher be going on tour? What are the dates for Usher's UK tour?

Listen to this article

R&B singer Usher headlined the iconic Super Bowl halftime show on 11 February 2024 , and has since announced a UK & Europe tour alongside his North American dates.

The 'Confessions' singer has had a busy few years performing a residency in Las Vegas, and has even taken it to Europe with a residency in Paris, France.

• Usher’s complete Super Bowl setlist: songs and special guests
• How much did Usher get paid for his Super Bowl halftime show?
• Who is Usher Married To and Does He Have Children?

Since Usher has not done a worldwide tour since 2014's UR Experience Tour, 2024 will see Usher take on the US & Canada, and revealed he is taking it worldwide in 2025.

Where will Usher be performing? Will Usher come to the UK? Here's all we know.

Is Usher touring the UK and Europe?

Usher WILL be performing in the UK and Europe in 2025, as he has just announced dates for his 'PAST PRESENT FUTURE' tour!

Usher says: “Europe, you ready? After the epic experience at the Super Bowl and the huge demand for shows across North America, I’m happy to announce I’m coming your way as well - for shows in London, Paris, Amsterdam and Berlin.

This tour is both a celebration of the past 30 years and a glimpse into the future. We are just getting started!”

USHER: PAST PRESENT FUTURE UK / EUROPEAN 2025 TOUR DATES:

Sat 29 March - London, UK – The O2 Arena - NEW SHOW ADDED

Tues 01 April – London, UK – The O2 Arena

Wed 02 April – London, UK – The O2 Arena

Sat 05 April – London, UK – The O2 Arena

Sun 06 April – London, UK – The O2 Arena

Tues 08 April – London, UK – The O2 Arena

Wed 09 April – London, UK – The O2 Arena

Fri 11 April – London, UK – The O2 Arena

Tues 15 April – Paris, France – Accor Arena

Wed 16 April – Paris, France – Accor Arena

Tues 22 April – Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Ziggo Dome

Wed 23 April – Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Ziggo DomeFri 25 April – Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Ziggo Dome

Sat 26 April – Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Ziggo Dome

Mon 28 April – Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Ziggo Dome

Thurs 01 May – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena

Fri 02 May – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena

Sun 04 May – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena

Tues 06 May – London, UK – The O2 Arena

Wed 07 May – London, UK – The O2 Arena

Is Usher going on a World Tour in 2024?

Usher has announced he will be taking his tour to the US and Canada.

Sources told Billboard that he plans to announce a tour off the back of his Super Bowl performance.

"That same team is expected to spend the next four-and-a-half months routing, confirming and finalising a 2024 global tour that sources expect will be ready to go on sale moments after he steps off the stage."

Usher also dropped his album, called Coming Home, the week of the Super Bowl, and the rumours of the tour were true!

Where will Usher be performing in the US?

Usher has announced US and Canadian dates for his USHER: PAST PRESENT FUTURE tour.

• Wed 14 Aug – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
• Fri 16 Aug – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
• Sat 17 Aug – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
• Tue 20 Aug – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
• Wed 21 Aug – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
• Fri 23 Aug – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
• Sat 24 Aug – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
• Tue 27 Aug – Boston, MA – TD Garden
• Wed 28 Aug – Boston, MA – TD Garden
• Fri 30 Aug – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
• Sat 31 Aug – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
• Mon 02 Sep – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
• Tue 03 Sep – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
• Fri 06 Sep – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
• Sat 07 Sep – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
• Mon 09 Sep – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
• Tue 10 Sep – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
• Thu 12 Sep – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
• Fri 13 Sep – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
• Tue 17 Sep – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
• Wed 18 Sep – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
• Sat 21 Sep – Los Angeles, CA – Intuit Dome
• Sun 22 Sep – Los Angeles, CA – Intuit Dome
• Tue 24 Sep – Los Angeles, CA – Intuit Dome
• Wed 25 Sep – Los Angeles, CA – Intuit Dome
• Sat 28 Sep – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
• Sun 29 Sep – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
• Thu 03 Oct – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
• Fri 04 Oct – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
• Sat 05 Oct – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
• Mon 07 Oct – Austin, TX – Moody Center ATX
• Tue 08 Oct – Austin, TX – Moody Center ATX
• Fri 11 Oct – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center
• Sat 12 Oct – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center
• Mon 14 Oct – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center
• Thu 17 Oct – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
• Fri 18 Oct – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
• Sun 20 Oct – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
• Tue 22 Oct – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center
• Wed 23 Oct – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center
• Fri 25 Oct – St Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
• Sat 26 Oct – St Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
• Mon 28 Oct – Chicago, IL – United Center
• Tue 29 Oct – Chicago, IL – United Center
• Thu 31 Oct – Chicago, IL – United Center
• Sat 02 Nov – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center
• Thu 07 Nov – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
• Fri 08 Nov – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
• Sun 10 Nov – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
• Mon 11 Nov – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
• Fri 15 Nov – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena
• Sat 16 Nov – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena
• Mon 18 Nov – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center
• Tue 19 Nov – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center
• Sat 23 Nov – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center
• Sun 24 Nov – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center
• Wed 27 Nov – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
• Fri 29 Nov – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
• Sat 30 Nov – Houston, TX – Toyota Center

U ready for me? Presenting USHER: PAST PRESENT FUTURE, starting August 2024! Tickets on sale Monday, Feb 12 @ 10am local. Sign up for the fan presale starting Friday, Feb 9 @ 10am | https://t.co/0yQPF9MEQd pic.twitter.com/gZRg2BTFfX — Usher Raymond IV (@Usher) February 6, 2024

What is the setlist for Usher's tour?

So far, no setlist has been confirmed for his tour.

However, we have a strong indication of what he might perform thanks to his Vegas residency.

Here is the setlist Usher performs during his Vegas residency (via Setlist.fm).

1. “My Way”

2. “Caught Up”

3. “U Don’t Have to Call”

4. “Love In This Club”

5. “Party” (Chris Brown cover)

6. “Lil’ Freak”

7. “Lovers And Friends” (Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz cover)

8. “Good Love” (City Girls cover)

9. “I Don’t Mind”

10. “Bad Girl”

11. “Good Kisser”

12. “My Boo”

13. “Superstar”

14. “Can U Handle It?”

15. “Dance (A$$)” (Big Sean cover)

16. “I Don’t F*ck With You” (Big Sean cover)

17. “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home)”

18. “I Need A Girl” (Diddy cover)

19. “Trading Places”

20. “U Remind Me”

21. “You Make Me Wanna…”

22. “Throwback”

23. “U Got It Bad”

24. “Nice & Slow”

25. “Climax”

27. “Confessions”

28. “Confessions Part II”

29. “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love”

31. “Yeah!”

32. “Without You”

How can I get tickets?

You can get tickets to the US and Canadian dates here .

For UK & Europe, can get tickets here: USHERWORLD.COM

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More gigs postponed amid opening week chaos at Manchester Co-op Live arena

General manager resigns after test event problems at 23,500-capacity venue, with shows rescheduled

The beleaguered Co-op Live arena has postponed gigs by the comedian Peter Kay for the second time, on the day its general manager resigned over delays to opening the venue.

A number of gigs have been rescheduled at the 23,500-capacity Manchester venue, which had been due to open three days ago but will now not open until May.

Kay, whose two shows had already been pushed back when the arena was beset by technical problems, once again apologised to fans, adding: “I know, I can’t believe it either.”

Gary Roden quit as general manager of the new arena after also being criticised for saying some small music venues were “poorly run”.

The venue held its first gig last Saturday, with Rick Astley as a surprise guest, performing to 11,000 arena workers, VIPs and press at a free test event. The show experienced problems including the cancellation of as many as 4,000 tickets, some one hour before the show, which left people “fuming” .

Ticket-holders were told they could attend a gig a week later by the US rock duo the Black Keys instead. However, the Co-op Live arena has also now rescheduled this gig to 15 May, with Peter Kay due to appear on 23 and 24 May.

One of the owners of the new venue said the comic had been “fantastic” and had “a good sense of humour”. The arena will now be opened by US rap artist A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie.

Confirming the rescheduling to the Manchester Evening News , Tim Leiweke, the chief executive of the sport and real estate giant Oak View Group, said: “Peter Kay has been fantastic. I can vouch, he has a very good sense of humour. God bless him. He’s agreed to push back to May 23 and 24. And that gives us a few extra days next week as well.

“I never thought A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie is going to open the building, but A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie is going to open the building.”

A Co-op Live statement thanked Roden for his “help bringing the UK’s newest arena to live entertainment fans” and wished him “the best for the future”. It said it was appointing Rebecca Kane Burton, who previously ran London’s O2 Arena, as the interim general manager.

Sited on the Etihad campus next to the Manchester City football ground, the £365m venue is scheduled to host Take That, the Killers, Eric Clapton, Barry Manilow and Olivia Rodrigo in the coming weeks, with plans to hold the MTV Europe music awards there in November.

Construction began in 2021 on the venue, which is financed by the City Football Group (owned by the billionaire Emirati Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan) and Oak View Group. While it was welcomed by city leaders, questions have been asked about whether another large-scale music venue was needed, just 2 miles from the 21,000-capacity Manchester AO arena.

Co-op Live, which contains several smaller gig rooms, has been criticised for declining to sign up to a £1-a-ticket levy that funds the Music Venue Trust’s (MVT) “pipeline investment fund” for grassroots venues.

Roden told the BBC the levy was “too simplistic”, adding that some venues were poorly run and there was no robust system to decide who got the funding. The venue later distanced itself from his comments, saying they did not represent the views of the company.

In response, the MVT told NME it was “disrespectful and disingenuous to suggest” small venues were poorly run.

It said: “Obviously, the irony of making ill-judged, unnecessary and misleading comments about grassroots music venues on the day that the launch of their new arena has unfortunately fallen into such difficulties is not lost on anyone in the music industry, on artists, or on audiences.”

• Co-operative Group
• Greater Manchester

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J. Cole  

• On tour: no
• Upcoming 2024 concerts: none

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Born Jermaine Lamarr Cole on 28 January 1985, but known by his musical alias J. Cole, this hip-hop artist grew up in North Carolina. He has a German mother and African-American father.

Cole was interested in music at the tender age of 12 and began working on his rapping skills during his teen hood. He moved to New York City to study at St. John’s University just so he could find more opportunities to grow his music career. He released several mixtapes following graduation: “The Come Up” in 2007 and “The Warm Up” in June 2009. Cole persistently sought the attention of hip hop artist and producer Jay-Z and his efforts were rewarded soon after.

J. Cole collaborated with several high profile hip hop artists in the next years including Jay-Z, Talib Kweli, and B.o.B. After gaining some experience and cementing a deal with Jay-Z’s label Roc Nation, J.Cole dropped his single “Who Dat” in 2010. The single was a prequel to his third mixtape entitled “Friday Night Lights” which debuted the same year. J.Cole began supporting hip hop superstars Rihanna and Drake on tour, which helped to increase his fanbase.

Roc Nation produced J.Cole’s debut album “Cole World: The Sideline Story” and it dropped on 27 September 2011 to rave reviews. The album jumped to the top of the Billboard 200 and features big names like Drake, Missy Elliott, Trey Songz, and of course Jay-Z. His success led to a nomination for “Best New Artist at the 2012 Grammy Awards.

J.Cole’s sophomore album “Born Sinner” followed in the footsteps of his first album. It was released in 2013 and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The album features guest artists TLC, Miguel, and Kendrick Lamar. J. Cole has since established his own label called Dreamville Records.

J.Cole cites Canibus and Eminem as his musical inspirations. He also grew up listening to his father’s favorite artists 2Pac and Ice Cube and his mother’s favorite genres: folk and rock.

Live reviews

J. Cole is sometimes an underappreciated artist and I believe that the astuteness of his lyrics are not given enough credit. As a huge fan, I knew I couldn’t miss his live performance in London (December 2013) as soon as I heard of it. At the Hammersmith Apollo, the anxiety of the fans was notorious. After jamming to hot hip-hop tracks with Tim Westwood in the pre-show, it was nice to see another Dreamville member doing his thing as Bas stepped on stage. For a rap artist, Cole made quite a big entrance, which included great lighting and some amazing background singers. In this concert, he sang most of the “Born Sinner” tracks (“Crooked Smile,” “Power Trip,” “She Knows" and “Forbidden Fruit” – to name a few,) his latest album at the time of the event, which was expected by the fans. But that was far from being his setlist. He managed to include hits from his first album as well as songs from his mixtapes, which were even better received from the audience. Although some rappers tend to not sing the whole tracks or skip the chorus vocals, Cole gave it all and sang every verse, keeping the energy high. One of the most memorable moments was when he started singing “Light Please” in a very calm ambient, giving room for the fans who followed him from the start to sing along. But what really marked me in his show was not only his honest and down-to-earth talks in between songs, but the fact he gave the fans a chance to choose extra songs. As a result, he sang a few unexpected tracks like “Back to the Topic” from a mixtape and also “Is She Gon Pop” from the latest album. In sum, J. Cole didn’t disappoint at all and totally made my trip worthwhile. In fact, he made me want to keep following his work and be attentive to future shows.

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J Cole was absolutely insane at O2!! I had the time of my life listening to my favourite artist live! As corny as it sounds, I could feel like the music in my whole body and could feel the emotion in every lyric he sang. If you're a Cole fan, I definitely recommend going to see him live because it will multiply the love you have for him because he's just so fucking incredible at connecting with the audience! His narrative and general stage presence is so intense there were so many moments I felt completely surreal jumping and singing to his voice. Such a memorable and perfect night I can't even properly word it!! The supporting acts (Ari Lennox and Earthgang - J.I.D was also there but I missed him I think) were also brilliant. Having the crowd chant 'Fuck Donald Trump!' really got me pumped (Earthgang), and overall, J Cole managed to keep everyone in the audience jumping, shouting, dancing and sweating till the very last second. I didn't know what and how much I was missing out on before I went to this concert, and every time he confirms a tour, I'll be the first to book tickets because he's a fucking legend who can sing, rap and write the most awe-inspiring songs!

Jermaine Lamarr Cole, better known by his stage name of J. Cole is an elusive visitor to the British isles yet when he does happen to appear, his devoted fan base flock to see this talented artist perform live. An intelligent lyricist and a sincere live performer, as the house lights fall on the hushed chatter of the crowd, Cole appears in humble manner leading on his band and backing singers.

The sound is near perfect in the venue and you can hear every single word perfectly annunciated during opener 'Trouble'. The crowd has clearly been waiting a while to see Jermaine perform as they sing back the lyrics with such force and dedication. Cole thanks them profusely for this before moving on to other fan favourites such as 'Nobody's Perfect', his collaboration with Mary J. Blige.

The speed in which Cole can freestyle keeps the audience cheering along yet it is early singles 'Who Dat' and 'Can't Get Enough' that send them into frenzy. Clearly enjoying himself onstage, J. Cole performs huge versions of these tracks before thanking the crowd for enjoying a show they will not be forgetting anytime soon.

J. Cole last night was amazing. Bringing his dreamville team he had Bas, Cozz and Omen warm up the crowd with beats that got us all searching em up on our way home from the venue.

Soon J.Cole walks on stage and the crowd is screaming, cheering for 5 min straight, everybody in the venue is standing up, jumping with excitement. And the excitement is getting more and more real as he preforms every song from his new "forest hills drive" album along with some old joints from his album "The Sideline Story" like "work out" and "lights please".

The vibe is intimate and turnt at the same time in the little venue sentrum scene in Oslo is. He takes time to appreciate everybody that came out to see him and deliver an amazing music experience with his rhymes and presence.

Thank YOU Cole.

The whole lineup was phenomenal! He really inspired and made it very personal. That is what an artist is suppose to do. He performed the whole album and a few from his previous albums. I have been a J. Cole fan since day one. When my boyfriend and I were just best friends singing "Best Friend" and that being my ringtone to "just like a star" and just growing with his music. My boyfriend is an aspiring rapper and honestly this concert gave him the motivation, while listening to J.Cole I watch my boyfriends eyes light up while the hair stood up on his arms. J.Cole please come back again. We will always be a fan!

You put on a great show Big Sean, great, Jeremih, awesome and YG we want more music you had the crowd going!

Best concert I've been to in a while!

I saw J cole last night in Dublin, it was the most amazing experience of my life,

He truly is an amazing person and He showed us his past and let us see what each song was about, which I thought was a great add to the concert and made it more personal. If I could, I would repeat last night over and over again, and I would never get sick of it, j cole is a MUST SEE, also such a kind man Aswel, have huge respect for him and his opinions. Also- as he told us last night he has a bit of Irish in him as his grandmother went on the boat from ireland to America, and his grandmother gave birth to his mother, and his mother gave birth to J Cole. How amazing is that !!!!

One of the best shows I've ever had the pleasure of attending. At first, I was pissed that I couldn't find a date, despite getting the tickets months in advance. However, before long, Cole made me forget all about my dismal love life, and reminded me of why I do my social activism. If we don't demand change, we'll keep getting a red, white, blue dildo jammed up our rear ends. To put it another way, change is inevitable. Will it be ultimately for the better or worst, is the question though. Also, what will we tell our children's children when they ask us what did we honestly do to make the world a better place for them?

Hooooly shit was that good! This man knows how to put on a show, I tell you hwat! Even though the band wasn't featured, we knew they were there, and the musicianship was stellar. The man who was featured delivered the goods. He didn't just stand there, hiding behind a fancy coat, sunglasses and a crap-ton of bling. He brought energy and feeling to his set that made his openers' sets feel lackluster. When he spoke, I believed him. I felt his heart. One of the best shows I've ever seen.

Oh, and kudos to Honda Center and the soundsystem. Really good sound isn't always easy to come by in an arena, and they killed it!

Beyond my expectations! J Cole is so humble, speaks the truth and really wants to resonate his energy, thoughts, beliefs, and opinions with his audience! Not only did he play songs from his current hit album, 4 Your Eyes Only but hit it back to 2014, Forest Hill Drive and if you were digging him from the beginning with songs such as Nobody's Perfect etc. It was an amazing concert and I'm glad I went. It's all about investment. You either are willing to spend a certain amount of money, in them good seats and see and hear J Cole, or you couldn't be bothered. For me, the investment was worthwhile!

The best concert ever Jermaine (j.cole) is truly an amazing soul he performed for 2 hours nonstop ! Interacted with his supporters you can't really say that about other rappers who just perform for 30 minutes and go about their day , also in the show j.cole explained his songs from the album and also picked a fan to sing with him it was an amazing experience I was on the big screen twice & and he acknowledged my poster this was my first time seeing him but it won't be my last ! I love you Jermaine Lamarr Cole Thank you so much for last night .

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The Dead Daisies announce UK Tour for September

Get your pre-sale tickets first with Planet Rock

The Dead Daisies have announced a new headline UK tour for September 2024.

The ‘Light ‘Em Up UK Tour 2024’ will start at Brighton Chalk on Friday 6th September and finish up at London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire on Saturday 21st September.

Main support at all dates comes from The Treatment , with The Bites opening up the shows.

The Dead Daisies have gone from strength to strength since the release of their self-titled album in 2013. They have released six studio, one live one covers and a ‘Best Of’ album to a growing army of fans worldwide and have gained widespread media attention in an era where rock has been declared dead time and time again.

Watch: The Dead Daisies - 'Resurrected'

The band’s DNA incorporates an amazing collective of alumni including Glenn Hughes , Marco Mendoza, Richard Fortus , Dizzy Reed, Frank Ferrer, Darryl Jones, Charley Drayton, Deen Castronovo and Jon Stevens amongst others.

The current line-up consists of founder member David Lowy (guitar), John Corabi (vocals), Doug Aldrich (guitar), Tommy Clufetos (drums) and Michael Devin (bass).

The new single 'Light ‘Em Up' will be released on 10th May with the album of the same name following in early September.

A Planet Rock Tickets pre-sale is open now, with remaining tickets on general sale from Monday 29th April at 9am.

Get The Dead Daisies presale tickets at Planet Rock Tickets

The dead daisies’ uk tour dates.

SEPTEMBER 2024

Brighton Chalk – Fri 6th

Torquay The Foundry – Sat 7th

Southampton 1865 – Sun 8th

Holmfirth Picturedome – Tue 10th

Glasgow SWG3 – Wed 11th

Nottingham Rock City – Fri 13th

Wolverhampton KK’s Steelmill – Sat 14th

Newcastle Boiler Shop – Sun 15th

Manchester O2 Ritz – Tue 17th

Swansea Patti Pavillion – Wed 18th

Bristol O2 Academy – Fri 20th

London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire – Sat 21st

Upcoming rock tours for 2024 and beyond

Robert plant's saving grace.

Led Zeppelin legend Robert Plant is completing a 15-date UK tour in March 2024, with his band Saving Grace. Featuring Suzi Dian. The tour opened at Bristol Beacon on Wednesday 13th March, visiting Ipswich, London, Tunbridge Wells, Peterborough, Nottingham, Hastings, Liverpool, Sheffield and Blackburn throughout the month. Dates then continue, as Robert Plant presents Saving Grace then play Harrogate in late April, Stockton and Warwick in early May, and Southend and Woking in July. Buy tickets here

Melodic rockers FM announced a 15-date 2024 UK tour to celebrate their 40th anniversary. They will play 15 shows, starting in March 2024. Beginning the stretch in Nantwich Civic Hall on Saturday 30th March, they will visit Brighton, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Gateshead, Leeds, Bury St Edmunds, Birmingham, Cardiff, Newbury, Exeter, Southampton, London and Glasgow before concluding at Aberdeen Lemon Tree on Saturday 1st June. Buy tickets here

British rockers Kira Mac have a fresh headline UK tour lined up for April and May 2024. The string of dates will begin at Leeds Brudenell on Thursday 24th April 2024, continuing through to Saturday 11th May with a show at Stoke Underground. Playing 12 shows in total, Kira Mac will travel through Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle, Nottingham, Southampton, Wolverhampton, Norwich, Bristol, Newbury and London. Joining them on all dates will be fresh-faced classic rock purists Jayler, Buy tickets here

The Rolling Stones

Another tour happening in 2024 is legendary rock band The Rolling Stones . In October 2023, guitarist Keith Richards confirmed that the band were planning to hit the road in 2024 in support of 'Hackney Diamonds' - their first album of original material in 18 years. Then, in November 2023, the band further teased 2024 tour dates as they shared a link calling fans to sign up to their mailing list, for upcoming news and announcements. After fans noticed their iconic red tongue and lips logo then appearing outside locations in North America, it was confirmed that The Rolling Stones are set to play 15 stadium shows , and one festival, on a colossal tour across the United States and Canada from April-July 2024.

The Cadillac Three

Nashville country fuzz heroes The Cadillac Three will embark on their headline UK & Ireland 'The Years Go Fast Tour' in May 2024. The tour will open at Dublin Academy on Saturday 4th May, with the band visiting Belfast, Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham and Cardiff before concluding with The Cadillac Three's headline slot at Highways Festival at London Royal Albert Hall on Friday 17th May. Buy tickets here

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

As part of a 22-date European tour, The Boss and his incredible band will be heading to the UK & Ireland in May and July 2024 ! Tour dates begin as they play Cardiff Principality Stadium on Sunday 5th May 2024, before heading to Belfast, Kilkenny, Cork, Dublin and Sunderland. July will then see the legend perform at London Wembley Stadium on Thursday 25th - with an extra show added at the iconic venue du to phenomenal demand, on Saturday 27th. Buy tickets here

Toby Jepson

Wayward Sons frontman and Planet Rock presenter Toby Jepson will be embarking on an 18-date solo acoustic UK tour in May and June 2024. Entitled 'My Life In Words – Live Acoustic! From Little Angels to Wayward Sons', the sizable tour begins in Crumlin on 10th May 2024, continuing up until 25th June. Buy tickets here

Rammstein will be heading on an 18-date European stadium tour throughout Summer 2024. Dates begin in Prague Airport Letnany on Saturday 11th May, and after touring through 12 European countries over three months, the shows will conclude with two concerts at Gelsenkirchen Veltins Arena - in Rammstein's native Germany - on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th July 2024. At the moment, there are no UK dates on Rammstein's touring itinerary.

The Black Crowes

The Black Crowes announced in January that they have lined up a four-date headline English tour for May 2024. The short trek will see Chris and Rich Robinson and co. perform at Manchester O2 Apollo on Tuesday 14th May, then playing London Eventim Apollo and Newcastle O2 City Hall before culminating at Wolverhampton Civic Halls on Saturday 18th May. The support act for all four shows will be Jim Jones All Stars. Buy tickets here

May 2024 will see that start of The Classic Tales of YES UK Tour . Progressive rock legends YES will be embarking on a nine-dates trek this May and June, including new concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall and the Bristol Beacon, together with seven dates rescheduled from the YES' postponed 2023 Relayer UK tour.

Eric Clapton

Guitar virtuoso Eric Clapton has announced a headline UK & Ireland tour for May 2024. Slowhand will play arenas in Newcastle, Liverpool, Birmingham and Dublin before culminating with four nights at London's world-famous Royal Albert Hall. Buy tickets here.

'Hotel California' legend Eagles will be carrying out a UK residency in May and June 2024 - joined by Steely Dan at all dates. The residency will take place in Manchester, as part of their multi-year swansong tour The Long Goodbye . The Eagles will play the UK's largest indoor arena - Manchester's new 23,500 capacity Co-op Live venue - on Friday 31st May, Saturday 1st June and Tuesday 4th June 2024. Due to phenomenal band, the band have extended the residency with two more dates , adding shows on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th June. Buy tickets here

Tenacious D

The self-professed Greatest Band That Ever Played on Planet Earth, Tenacious D, will embark on a six-date UK arena tour in May 2024. The 'Tenacious D and the Spicy Meatball Tour' opens at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham on Tuesday 7th May 2024 and visits Manchester AO Arena, Glasgow OVO Hydro, Leeds First Direct Arena and Nottingham Motorpoint Arena before culminating at Brighton Centre on Monday 13th May 2024. Buy tickets here.

Bryan Adams

The legendary Bryan Adams will be embarking on a six-date UK tour in May 2024. The Groover From Vancouver will kick off the string of shows with a three-night residency at London's Royal Albert Hall from Monday 13th to Wednesday 15th May 2024, before heading through Coventry, Sheffield and Cardiff from 17th - 19th. Buy tickets here

Nickelback will head on a four-date UK arena tour in May 2024, starting the string of dates in Glasgow on Thursday 16th, before playing in Manchester and London, and ending the run in Birmingham on Thursday 23rd May 2024. Chart-topping UK indie-rock band Lottery Winners will join Chad Kroeger, Ryan Peake, Mike Kroeger and Daniel Adair at all four dates. Buy tickets here

Bruce Dickinson

Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson will embark on a six date UK tour in May 2024. The opening dates of Bruce's summer European trek, Bruce will play shows in Wolverhampton, Glasgow, Manchester, Swansea, Nottingham and London, from 16th - 24th May 2024. At all six dates, the support act comes in the form of New Zealand hard rockers Black Smoke Trigger. Buy tickets here Buy tickets here

Jane's Addiction

Jane's Addiction will head on a short headline UK tour in May and June 2024. The short tun of shows will follow Jane Addiction's already announced headline slot at the Bearded Theory Festival, which will take place in Derbyshire from Thursday 23rd May to Sunday 26th May 2024. They will then perform two nights at London's The Roundhouse (27th and 29th May), then play Glasgow Barrowland (31st May) and Manchester O2 Apollo (3rd June). Buy tickets here

Five Finger Death Punch

Five Finger Death Punch will embark on their UK/European tour of headline dates, including a show at London's OVO Arena Wembley, starting on 23rd May 2024. Dates are set to continue through to 14th July.

Robin Trower

May 2024 will see Robin Trower perform his first live concerts in six years, at Planet Rock's Blues Power Live. For the first time, Blues Power Live will take place at three separate venues across England - Robin Trower kicks off the trio of concerts at London Islington Assembly on Tuesday 28th May, before playing two more dates at Gateshead Glasshouse (30th May) and Holmfirth Picturedrome (31st May). Buy tickets here

After teasing UK and European tour dates just a week before, Tool confirmed in November 2023 that they would be bringing a series of shows to the UK in May and June 2024. Maynard James Keenan, Adam Jones, Danny Carey and Justin Chancellor will play a total of 15 European shows in the early summer, including three arena dates in England - on Thursday 30th May 2024, Saturday 1st June and Monday 3rd June. Buy tickets here

Winger - 2024

New York City rockers Winger have announced details of their final UK concert . After touring the UK with Steel Panther last year, Winger will play their last-ever show on these shores at London Islington Assembly Hall on Friday 7th June 2024. Get tickets here.

Although it's not quite a UK tour, German rock legends Scorpions will be playing their first UK concert in five years in 2024. Taking place at London OVO Arena Wembley on Saturday 8th June 2024, Rudolf Schenker, Klaus Meine, Matthias Jabs, Pawel Maciwoda and Mikkey Dee will perform their only UK concert, as part of the 'Love at First Sting Tour', celebrating the 40th anniversary of Scorpions' ninth studio album of the same name. Their special guests at the momentous show will be their fellow rock icons Extreme. Buy tickets here

Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets

Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets will celebrate the early music of Pink Floyd on a headline UK tour in June 2024 . Nick Mason, Gary Kemp, Guy Pratt, Lee Harris and Dom Beken will play 14 headline shows opening at Stoke Victoria Hall on Tuesday 11th June and wrapping up at London Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 29th June. Buy tickets here

Mr. Bungle will play two headline shows ahead of their appearance at Download Festival this summer, serving as their first headline UK shows in 24 years. The epic shows will take place at London O2 Forum Kentish Town on Wednesday 12th June and Manchester O2 Ritz on Thursday 13th June. Their performance at Download Festival will then take place on Friday 14th June. Buy tickets here

Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters began promoting their 11th studio album 'But Here We Are' in May 2023, while also revealing that UK concerts were on the horizon . The news was confirmed in June, with the band announcing their highly anticipated UK tour will take place in 2024 . Dates for the shows take place from Thursday 13th June - Thursday 27th, with the tour being the band's first in the UK since the untimely death of drummer Taylor Hawkins , which led to them cancelling UK stadium tour in June and July 2022 . Foo Fighters made their live return in May 2023, with Josh Freese recruited as their new drummer . Foo Fighters will play in Manchester, Glasgow, London, Cardiff and Birmingham. Due to phenomenal demand, they added an extra date in Manchester . Buy tickets here

Troy Redfern

British slide guitar virtuoso Troy Redfern has lined up an 11-date headline UK tour for June 2024, titled the 'Troy Redfern "Invocation" Headline UK Tour'. The tour will open in Frome on Monday 17th June 2024, travelling through Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Chester, Birmingham, Guildford, Cambridge, Southampton and London before concluding in Tunbridge Wells on Tuesday 27th June. Buy tickets here

Keanu Reeves' rock band Dogstar will play their first UK shows in 25 years this summer, heading to the UK to play two shows in June 2024 . As part of a larger European tour, Dogstar will play headline shows at Manchester New Century Hall on Tuesday 18th June and London Electric Ballroom on Wednesday 19th June. Marking a quarter of a century since performing on these shores, the band's last UK performance was at Glastonbury Festival on 27th June 1999. Buy tickets here

In 2024 'American Idiot' legends Green Day will be bringing their tour to the UK & Europe . 'The Savior Tour' will follow the release of their 14th studio album of the same name, which will be released on Friday 19th January 2024. Tour dates start in Manchester on Friday 21st June 2024, and also include their appearance at the Isle Of Wight Festival. Joining them at the four stadium dates will be chart-conquering Southend-on-Sea collective Nothing But Thieves, and Hasting punk rockers Maid of Ace. Buy tickets here

The same day they premiered the title track from their 12th studio album 'Dark Matter' , Pearl Jam announced shows in England and Ireland for as part of their tour in summer 2024. The Seattle rock heroes will perform at Dublin Marlay Park on Saturday 22nd June, Manchester's brand new venue Co-op Live on Tuesday 25th June, and London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday 29th June.

Rock legends Heart will embark on their first UK tour in eight years this July 2024. The Royal Flush Tour 2024 will see Heart play six huge arena shows with special guests Squeeze, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary. The tour will open at London's The O2 on Monday 1st July 2024, then visit Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester and Leeds before concluding at Glasgow OVO Hydro on Tuesday 9th July 2024. Buy tickets here

Following reports that AC/DC were 'looking at 2024 tour dates' to coincide with their 50th anniversary, and after the rock legends' live return at October 2023's Power Trip festival in California, it has been confirmed that AC/DC will perform two colossal concerts at London's Wembley Stadium for this summer. As part of The Power Up Tour, named after the band's chart-topping 2020 album 'PWR UP', the shows will take place on Wednesday 3rd and Sunday 7th July 2024. The two Wembley shows will mark the first time AC/DC have performed in the UK in more than eight years. At all European dates of their tour, New York rockers The Pretty Reckless will play support . Buy tickets here

Mammoth WVH

Mammoth WVH will return to the UK in July for their first headlining shows - after their stint opening for Slash with Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators, and playing shows with legendary names such as Metallica, Alter Bridge and Sevendust, Def Leppard and Motley Crüe, and Nita Strauss. Their two headlining shows take place at Birmingham O2 Institute 2 on Monday 8th July 2024, and London O2 Academy on Tuesday 9th July. Buy tickets here

Stevie Nicks

Fleetwood Mac icon Stevie Nicks will headline American Express presents BST Hyde Park this summer. Stevie will top the bill at the London festival on Friday 12th July 2024. Shortly after her headline spot was announced, it was then revealed that the legend will be performing two more arena shows in the UK this summer, taking place at Glasgow's OVO Hydro on Saturday 6th July and Manchester's Co-op Live on Tuesday 9th July. Buy tickets here

The Commoners - 2024

Taking place alongside their festival performances at Steelhouse and Maid of Stone, Canadian rockers The Commoners will play a string of headline shows throughout the UK. The trek of seven headline shows will open at London's The Grace on Friday 19th July 2024, and visit Milton Keynes, Wolverhampton, Newbury, Manchester, Edinburgh and Leeds on 27th July. Buy tickets here

Garbage - 2024

Scottish-American rockers Garbage have announced their first headline UK tour in five years. Following their previously confirmed show at Glasgow's TRNSMT Festival in July 2024, Garbage will play their own headline concerts in Edinburgh, Bridlington, Wolverhampton and Manchester before concluding with a gargantuan gig at London Wembley OVO Arena on Saturday 20th July. Get tickets here.

Alt-metal pioneers KoRn will return to London in August 2024 to perform for the first time in seven years. In what will be their biggest UK headline show to date, the band will perform at London's Gunnersbury Park on Sunday 11th August.

Blackberry Smoke

In September 2024 Blackberry Smoke will be coming to the UK for a five-date headline tour. The band will kick off their tour at Glasgow O2 Academy on Monday 9th September 2024, before going on to play Edinburgh O2 Academy, Manchester O2 Apollo, Birmingham O2 Academy, and finally London Eventim Apollo on Saturday 14th. Buy tickets here

Tyketto and Little Caesar

Tyketto, along with long-time friends Little Ceasar, will embark on a nine-date UK tour in September 2024. Titled 'A Show of Strength Tour', shows bein at London O2 Academy on Thursday 12th September 2024, and it visit Cambridge, Nottingham, Barnsley, Newcastle, Glasgow, Manchester and Wolverhampton before concluding at Southampton's The 1865 on Sunday 22nd September 2024. Buy tickets here

Elles Bailey

Genre-splicing roots singer, and Planet Rock presenter, Elles Bailey will head on her biggest headline tour to date this Autumn - spanning 16 shows across the UK - in support of her latest album 'Beneath The Neon Glow'. Dates begin in Lincoln on Wednesday 25th September 2024, with the run travelling through Norwich, Cambridge, Oxford, Carlisle, Gloucester, Exeter, Bristol, London, Southampton, Sunderland, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Chester and Wolverhampton, before culminating in Leeds on Sunday 1st December. Buy tickets here

Apocalyptica

Following Finnish symphonic metallers Apocalyptica recruiting Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo for a track on their tenth studio album 'Plays Metallica Vol. 2', the band also announced 2024 UK tour dates. Apocalyptica will perform Metallica classics on tour throughout September and October 2024, with dates starting in Manchester on Sunday 29th September. The 'Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol.2 Tour' will then travel through London, Glasgow and Nottingham, before culminating in Cardiff on Saturday 5th October. Buy tickets here

Steve Hackett

Guitar great Steve Hackett will be performing shows in October 2024 - embarking on the 15-date Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlights & Solo UK tour. The tour will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Genesis' sixth studio album 'The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway', with the setlist boasting a selection of highlights from the album. Steve will also be performing other Genesis favourites and songs from his solo repertoire. The tour opens at Aylesbury Friars Waterside on Wednesday 2nd October 2024, and visits Portsmouth, Bristol, Cambridge, Birmingham, Liverpool, Cardiff, Guildford, Stoke, York, Nottingham, Glasgow, Gateshead, Manchester and Reading before concluding at London Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday 23rd October. Buy tickets here

Samantha Fish

Blues rocker Samantha Fish will head on her 10-date 'The Bulletproof Tour' throughout the UK in October 2024. Shows begin at Birmingham Town Hall on Friday 4th October, before visiting Brighton, London, Norwich, Cardiff, Bath, Leeds, Nottingham and Newcastle, then closing at Edinburgh Queen's Hall on Sunday 13th October. Buy tickets here

Scottish blues rockers King King have a 15-date tour lined up for autumn 2024. With special guest Arielle at all dates, the Planet Rock presents King King tour opens at Kendal Brewery Arts on Thursday 10th October and wraps up at Southport Atkinson on Tuesday 29th October - also visiting Chester, Southampton, Brighton, Gloucester, Bath, Stockton, Leeds, Carlisle, Gateshead, Lincoln, Norwich, Reading and Cardiff. Buy tickets here

Alice Cooper

Icon, pioneer, and Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Alice Cooper will be performing in the UK for the first time since 2022, bringing his 'Too Close For Comfort Tour' across the pond in October 2024. Alice and his award-winning band will begin the string of shows in Glasgow on Monday 14th October, before heading to arenas in Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, before finishing with two shows at London's Eventim Apollo on Sunday 20th and Monday 21st. Buy tickets here

Dream Theater

The reunited 'classic line-up' of Dream Theater announced European tour dates , to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band - including a UK show. The tour, billed as 'An Evening With Dream Theater' will be their first live outing since drummer Mike Portnoy's return to the lineup - with dates starting at the O2 in London, on 20th October 2024, serving as the only UK date. Buy tickets here

As part of their 50th anniversary celebrations, Y & T have lined up an eight-date autumn 2024 UK tour . The California rockers open the tour at Southampton The Brook on Tuesday 22nd October 2024, before visiting Cardiff, London, Wolverhampton, Holmfirth, Glasgow and Newcastle, culminating at Nottingham Rock City on Saturday 2nd November. Buy tickets here

Journey with special guests Cheap Trick

Rock legends Journey are bringing their 50th Anniversary Freedom Tour to the UK & Ireland in autumn 2024. The tour serves as their first on these shores in well over a decade, and opens at Cardiff Utilita Arena on Wednesday 30th October 2024, visiting Nottingham, Glasgow, Belfast, Dublin, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham and Newcastle before concluding at London The O2 on Sunday 17th November. Buy tickets here

Suzi Quatro

Suzi Quatro will celebrate her 60th anniversary in the music business with a five-date UK tour in the autumn of 2024. Playing in prestigious venue throughout the UK, her tour opens at the world-famous London Palladium on Wednesday 13th November 2024. She'll then play dates at York Barbican, Cardiff New Theatre and Liverpool Philharmonic Hall before closing at Leicester De Montfort Hall on Wednesday 20th November. Buy tickets here

Within Temptation

Dutch symphonic metallers Within Temptation will be heading on a headline UK arena tour in autumn 2024. Part of a much larger European trek, the UK leg opens at Cardiff Utilita Arena on Friday 15th November and visits London Wembley Arena, Nottingham Motorpoint Arena and Leeds First Direct Arena. Buy tickets here.

Robert Jon & The Wreck

November and December 2024 will see Orange County rockers Robert Jon & The Wreck head on a 10-date UK tour , following the June release of their new studio album 'Red Moon Rising'. Opening at The Appleyard in Sittingbourne on Wednesday 20th November 2024, the band will then visit Brighton, Bath, Southampton, Newcastle, Glasgow, Cambridge, London and Oxford before culminating at Nottingham Rock City on Sunday 1st December. Buy tickets here

Anthrax, Kreator and Testament

Anthrax and Kreator are joining forces for a co-headline UK and Ireland tour this coming autumn, joined by their fellow thrash veterans Testament. The joint tour will begin at Manchester O2 Apollo on Thursday 21st November 2024, with the force then playing Wolverhampton Civic Hall, London Eventim Apollo and Dublin 3Arena before concluding at Glasgow OVO Hydro on Wednesday 27th November. Buy tickets here

Philip Sayce

Blues rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter Philip Sayce will tour the UK in 2024, in support of his latest studio album 'The Wolves Are Coming'. Philip will be joined by special guest Troy Redfern at all dates, opening the tour at Leeds Brudenell on Thursday 21st November, and visiting Gateshead, Glasgow, Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol, Southampton and Colchester before concluding at London Islington Assembly Hall on Wednesday 4th December. Buy tickets here After playing a rapturously received UK tour last November, the Aberystwyth-born, Toronto-raised, Los Angeles-residing musician will play nine shows on his next headline trek.

Rick Wakeman

Keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman is heading on a 2024 Christmas tour . The 'Rick Wakeman Yuletide Christmas Show' tour opens at Portsmouth New Theatre Royal on Saturday 23rd November 2024, and wraps up at London Cadogan Hall five days before Christmas on Friday 20th December. Buy tickets here

Punk rock pioneers The Damned will perform 11 shows with their 80s line-up, in a very special UK tour in December 2024. The tour will see their 80's line-up back together, with the permanent return of drummer Rat Scabies, in what will be the first time they have all shared the stage together in 35 years. Shows begin at Newcastle's NX on Wednesday 4th December 2024, with the string of shows ending at London's Roundhouse on Wednesday 18th December. Buy tickets here

Legendary Heart vocalist Ann Wilson announced an album with her band Tripsitter, 'Another Door', in September 2023, and in a statement issued to Planet Rock said: 'UK tour dates will be announced in 2024' in support of 'Another Door'. Dates are yet to be announced.

The Australian Pink Floyd Show - 2024

Acclaimed Pink Floyd tribute act The Australian Pink Floyd Show have added an extra show to their Autumn 2024 UK tour due to huge demand. They've already sold out five dates on their upcoming trek, including their closing tour date at London's world-famous Royal Albert Hall, and has now been expanded to 35 dates and it will open at London Palladium on Thursday 10th October 2024. Get tickets here.

Bywater Call - 2024

Canadian blues-infused roots rockers Bywater Call have announced a headline UK tour for October 2024. The Toronto septet open their tour in Manchester on 16th October before concluding at Newbury Arlington Arts on 26th October.

Deep Purple - 2024

Rock legends Deep Purple will head on their five date UK tour this autumn, embarking on their 'The =1 More Time Tour'. Shows begin at Birmingham Resorts World Arena on Monday 4th November 2024, visiting London, Leeds and Manchester before concluding at Glasgow OVO Hydro on Sunday 10th November. Buy tickets here

The Almighty - 2024/2025

Glasgow's prodigal sons The Almighty announced six headline UK shows over the next two years, bringing three shows in November 2024 and three more in November 2025. The tour sees the band's original line-up of Ricky Warwick, Stumpy Monroe, Floyd London and Andy 'Tantrum' McCafferty continue the three in a row concept under the title 'Three 'N' Easy.' Buy tickets here

GUN will be heading on their headline tour in December 2024, in support of their new studio album 'Hombres'. The Scottish rockers' tour is set to begin at London Scala on Wednesday 4th December, visiting Wolverhampton, Manchester, Bristol, Southampton, Leeds, Newcastle, Aberdeen and Galashiels before culminating at Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom on Saturday 14th December. Buy tickets here

Slipknot - 2024

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Bullet For My Valentine and Trivium - 2025

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Fish - 2025

Fish is performing UK dates for his farewell 'Road to the Isles Tour' , which starts in Europe in 2024. The 15-date UK leg opens with a hometown show at Haddington Corn Exchange on Tuesday 18th February 2025 and wraps up at Glasgow O2 Academy on Monday 10th March 2025 – serving as Fish's last ever live performance. Two further dates were added to the tour in March 2024 due to phenomenal demand. Buy tickets here

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Neeraj Madhav pulls plug on UK tour, cites mistreatment from event organisers 

Neeraj Madhav's UK music tour abruptly ended due to alleged unprofessional behaviour and mistreatment by event organizers. In a recent Instagram post, Madhav detailed a series of unfortunate incidents, including rude behaviour, verbal abuse, and an alleged attempted physical assault directed towards him and his team during an event in Dublin.

Madhav stated in an Instagram post, "Leaving London with a heavy heart. Worst experience ever. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to complete my UK tour. Anybody booked your tickets to see me perform, please get refund." He further said, "It is with a heavy heart that we must address the recent unfortunate events surrounding our involvement with Blackjack Pvt Ltd based in London.We feel compelled to share our side of the story to ensure transparency and to shed light on the unprofessional conduct exhibited by the event organizers."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Neeraj Madhav / NJ (@neeraj_madhav)

Madhav revealed that throughout their interactions with the event organizers, they encountered multiple challenges and frustrations. Despite their best efforts to collaborate and overcome obstacles, they were met with disrespect, verbal abuse, and derogatory language. "These actions culminated in a heated altercation on the night of the event in Dublin," Madhav explained. "Derogatory terms were directed towards our team, including myself and our manager, and even attempted physical attacks. If it was not for the people gathered around, we would've got hurt."

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