Hip-Hop Aimed Networking with Grime (HANG), Scotland's first ever hip hop conference, has just announced the latest additions to it’s all-day educational workshop and cultural event, set for Saturday 31st July.

New speakers include producer of The Rap Show with Tiffany Calver and The Grime Show with Sir Spyro at BBC Radio 1/1Xtra, Kieran Soraghan and cultural innovator Mobolaji Agoro of Glasgow-based music platform UP2STNDRD and Forij Arts Collective.

The announcement also signals a new partnership between the Association of Independent Music (AIM), the not-for-profit trade body representing the UK’s independent music sector and HANG, which is presented by the Scottish Alternative Music Awards (SAMA) and backed by Creative Scotland. In a new addition to HANG's online schedule, AIM will discuss whether to achieve success artists have to leave Scotland for London.

This conversation will be chaired by AIM's Entrepreneur & Outreach Manager Ben Wynter, and will feature a panel including Andy Musgrave, founder of AIM member Supernature, the management and artist services company whose recent achievements include the breakout success of West London rapper AJ Tracey; Eve Fairley-Chickwe, senior A&R exec at global artist services company AWAL, and LOTOS, the first unsigned hip hop artist from Scotland recognised by the MOBO’s.

Ben Wynter explains: “Everyone at AIM is proud to partner with HANG on such an excellent conference. Having spent time in Scotland I have been able to soak up some of the exciting and diverse hip hop talent that exists in the nation. I have also had the pleasure of engaging some of Scotland’s hip hop community whilst discussing barriers and hurdles that they face by being so far from the hub of the music industry in London. As such, it is vitally important for AIM to partner with HANG to assist in creating a more equal and equitable industry for all, regardless of geographical location or any other barrier that may be faced."

"Last month we launched our Associate Membership. This new membership tier means that the knowledge and resources that we house will be available to creators, managers, and labels for free as we double down on our commitment to create a fairer industry and embark on our quest to humanise the music industry. We hope that this partnership will lead to long-term visibility and success for Scottish hip hop talent as well as a deeper bond between AIM and the Scottish hip hop community.”

HANG first day-long event will culminate in a live showcase (19:00-22:00) at Glasgow's SWG3, where rising Aberdeen grime emcee Chef and Scottish-Mauritian artist Clarrisa Woods will perform exclusive sets alongside Scottish Album Of The Year 2020 winner Nova (aka Shaheeda Sinkler), SAMA winner India Ros3, Ayrshire rapper Bemz and Mistah Bohze of Glasgow's label Southside Deluxe. Woods' melodic, emotionally-attuned hip hop attracted the recipients of HANG's artist callout last month, as did the up tempo wit of Chef, an artist whose partnership with SAMA nominee producer Louis Seivwright has helped bring him to prominence on the Scottish scene and beyond, as has his role as creative director at Ransom HQ, the Aberdeen recording studio run by Ransom FA.

Earlier in the day, Kieran Soraghan will give vital advice on how artists can break into radio in a discussion with radio host and DJ at Foundation FM K4CIE, Delaina Sepko (Sunny Govan's Beats & Breaks) and champion of new music in Scotland, Vic Galloway.

Agoro, founder of studio/platform UP2STNDRD and Forij, a collective of musicians, DJs, visual artists and producers, will join Khaleda Noon of Intercultural Youth Scotland, comedian/DJ Karen Dunbar, Donna Boyd of Making Recovery Visible and Jill Brown, founder of Scotland's first label for ex-offenders to explore how hip hop and spoken word informs community engagement.

As previously announced, HANG's opening discussion will see Ransom FA himself explore the story of hip hop and grime in Scotland with fellow speakers Sinkler and Orwell Prize winner Darren McGarvey, while the online schedule will close with an in-conversation event with Shereen Cutkelvin (BBC Introducing In Scotland) and Tiffany Calver, the first female presenter of BBC Radio 1Xtra's Rap Show.

Through discussions, workshops and performances, HANG aims to celebrate the diversity of voices reflecting contemporary Scotland as well as empower members of the country's hip hop and grime communities to pool their strengths, learn from one another and take the next steps in their careers.

Artists working in hip hop will soon be able to apply for new funding to develop their practice and test out new ideas. Delivered by Sunny G Radio in partnership with UP2STNDRD and 644 Studios, these new Creative Scotland funds will open for application during HANG on Sat 31 July. Keep up to date with developments via Sunny G Radio website: https://www.sunnyg.org/hiphopbursary

If you like the sounds of this and you’re able to travel to Glasgow, get your tickets here…

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hang-2021-scotlands-hip-hop-grime-conference-tickets-157321846879

words: Anastasia