Sticking with my birthplace, and 70 minutes of prime rap cuts from artists born and/or based in beautiful Bristol.
To use the vernacular, I don't know shit about rap but I keep discovering lots of music and artists that I like and so much of it can be found in the city. And hearing someone spitting out rhymes with a Bristolian burr is a singular pleasure.
Here's a 19-song selection, including some local legends - and obvious picks - with Massive Attack, Tricky, Kelz and Smith & Mighty. Others are long established but relatively new to me - Upfront, Res, Bil Next and Paro. And some has dropped brand new tracks in the last few weeks - Baileys Brown, Dizraeli and Viktus.
And in another one of those happy coincidences, I discovered halfway through writing up this selection that it's Viktus' birthday today. This post was meant to be.
Happy 27th, Viktus, hope it's a good one!
1) Bristol Bullshit (Remix By Samadee): Res (2017)
2) Financial Times: C-Froo (2008)
3) Artets: Baileys Brown (2025)
4) Karmacoma (Album Version): Massive Attack ft. Tricky (1994)
5) Mirrors: Viktus ft. Liv Sangster (2025)
6) 2 Wheelin' It (Single Version By Badhabitz): Joey Paro (2020)
7) Protein (Rob Smith Dub Mix): Ree-Vo (2022)
8) Natures Way (Remix By Samadee): Life MC ft. Fliptrix & Upfront (2017)
9) The Butcher's Ball: Sober & Dribbla (2009)
10) Bristol To London: Tricky ft. Blackman & Marlon Thaws (2010)
11) Hit The Brakes: Res One, Upfront, Badhabitz (2025)
12) Get In Get Out: Rob Smith ft. MC Kelz (2007)
13) Bristol Track: C-Froo (2008)
14) Marvellous (Part Two): Dizraeli & Joy Machine (2025)
15) It's A Bristol Ting: Jinxsta (2006)
16) Danger: Smith & Mighty ft. Kelz & Rudy Lee) (2002)
17) Weedmasons Anthem (Remix By Chris Lucas): Bil Next & Paro ft. Jman & Prime (2018)
18) Black Magic: Viktus (2024)
19) Bristol Is Like: Upfront MC (2012)
1994: Protection: 4
2002: Danger EP: 16
2006: Bristol Fringe 2006 (Venue magazine promo CD): 15
2007: In One Way Or Another: 12
2008: Venue The Album #1 (Venue magazine promo CD): 2, 13
2009: Venue The Album #12(Venue magazine promo CD): 9
2010: Mixed Race: 10
2012: Sound Of Evolution EP: 19
2017: Spilt Prophets Present The Samadee Remixes: 1, 8
2018: Mongrel Melodies (Part 3) SP: Remixes: 17
2020: 2 Wheelin' It EP: 6
2022: The Joyzine Advent Calendar 2022: 7
2024: Black Magic EP: 18
2025: Concorde: 11
2025: Don't Do It EP: 3
2025: Marvellous EP: 14
2025: Mirrors EP: 5
