Hiphop & Rap in Bristol

upcoming gig

Bristol's Hiphop Scene

Bristol’s Hiphop Explosion in 2022?

Hip-hop is big in Bristol in 2022, but it’s never really gone away. Acts like the High Breed bring meaning back to hip-hop in the Bristol underground scene, which some Bristol rap artists have cited as limiting on their chance of success (as compared to their London hip-hop rivals). The shadow of Bristol trip-hop still looms large, with Massive Attack and Tricky being the defining moment for some (and anything else that doesn’t conform to this is swept aside). Hip-hop nights in Bristol set to redefine this, nights booking international hip-hop artists like Next Up and Raise the Bar (who combine hip-hop and spoken word).

It is often said that graffiti is the written expression of hiphop and a key element in hiphop cuture, however the huge quantity of graffiti and comparatively small amount of hiphop in Bristol suggests otherwise... While Bristol is certainly a key stopover for big rap and hiphop tours with artists like De La Soul and Wu Tang Clan playing Bristol's big venues, smaller hiphop events are less prominent.

Although not exclusively hiphop venues it's worth checking the listings for The LAB club, Mr Wolfs and The Croft. Metropolis has emerged as reliable hiphop venue with past guests including Ugly Duckling, Peanut Butter Wolf and Arrested Development. The Contraband Sessions held at The Golden Lion on Gloucester Road every Wednesday can be a good place to find free, Bristolian hiphop gigs.

Buy tickets for hiphop events in Bristol

Our recent hiphop recommendations

Future funk, astral jazz and bass-heavy trap combine in a swirling maelstrom of sound like BADBADNOTGOOD covering DJ Rashad’s greatest licks. Real hypnotising musicianship without a laptop in sight. ECHT + Echo Juliet at The Jam Jar.

Seamlessly tight afrobeat, hiphop and high-life grooves. Onipa’s lead vocalist and frequent collaborator with Nubiyan Twist, K.O.G’s vocal dexterity and effusive energy is pure heat start to finish." K.O.G. + GAROËSS at Strange Brew.

Suave and soulful sonic melting pot of jazz, trip-hop, hip-hop, grime-punk and poetry from Galli regular Irish Mellow, paired with Billie Maree’s lilting and emotive alt-folk-pop. Essential FFO: Loyle Carner, SAULT, Kamasi Washington. Irish Mellow + Billie Maree + VOOKOO DJs at The Jam Jar.

Monochrome made a blood oath to extreme ugliness in all forms, and the hex has not been lifted! Another weekend splatterfest of pummeling deathgrind, cybernetic queercore and….noise accordion? Gruelling highlights include Black Curse’s ludicrously blackened death-magick, Gretchen Guttersnipe in solo anarcho-gabber psychodrama, graveyard-bating OSDM from Coffin Mulch + all the bands we’ve never heard of, yet can’t unhear ….. Saturday Only at Strange Brew.

What our editors say

“Stereo MC's are an English hip hop and electronic dance group that formed in Clapham, London, England, in 1985. They had an international top 20 hit with their single "Connected" and a UK top 20 hit with "Step It Up".”
From: Stereo MC's

“Surprise Chef’s music is based on evoking mood; their vivid arrangements utilize time and space to build soundscapes that invite the listener into their world. The quintet’s distinct sound pulls from 70s film scores, the funkier side of jazz, and the samples that form the foundation of hip hop. They push the boundaries of instrumental soul and funk with their own approach honed by countless hours in the studio, studying the masters, and perhaps most importantly, the ‘tyranny of distance’ that dictates a unique perspective to their music.”
From: Surprise Chef + Support

“Senser have released 5 studio albums. In 2013 they successfully fan funded and released their 5th studio album ‘To The Capsules’ incorporating their unique fusion of rock, metal, hip hop and alternative electronica, staying true to the sound they have been producing since 1989.”
From: Senser

“The Sugarhill Gang are sharing the stage with with rock and roll hall of fame inducted Melle Mel & Scorpio from The Furious Five to bring you the finest classic hip hop experience sound across all continents.”
From: Sugarhill Gang Ft. Melle Mel & Scorpio

“Carving out an exceptionally infectious sound, Fedzilla is a riveting MC and rapper. From festival stages to sound systems and street carnivals, her shows speak directly to the audience, immersing passionate stories and humorous commentary into bass-heavy beats made for the dancefloor. With piercing raps in English and Spanish, she flows charismatically between dancehall, reggaeton, hip hop and electronica.”
From: La Dame Blanche + Fedzilla