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In November 2025, a conspiracy theory went viral: Hollywood actor Timothée Chalamet was secretly living a double life as EsDeeKid, a masked rapper from Liverpool. Millions believed it and further fueled the speculative fire. Then, in December, Chalamet appeared in a music video and rapped alongside the British artist. The fan theory was proven wrong in that moment, but it didn’t matter. UK underground rap had captured the world’s attention.
The scene has been building for a decade, but the last year has been different. SoundCloud streams for UK underground rap artists quadrupled in 2025, according to research in our recent Music Intelligence Report. In May 2026, the lineup for hip-hop festival Rolling Loud in Orlando is packed with big names in the scene — EsDeeKid, fakemink, fimiguerrero, Feng and SoundCloud Ascending artist alumni, YT. It’s the first time UK underground rap has had a serious footprint at a major US festival.
So what does it actually sound like? British artists rapping in their own unaffected accents — Scouse, South London, Yorkshire — over beats that draw on disparate sonics, from jittery electronics and indie guitar textures to drill, jerk and hyperpop. To listeners in the US, there might be familiar elements; one key group of American producers are making beats inspired by UK influences. Those in the orbit of New York jerk rapper Xaviersobased, as well as his frequent collaborators cranes, 444jet and mag, have become central to the UK underground rap sound.
Beyond Hollywood-driven virality, and production talent, there’s another transatlantic connection that shapes the scene: the cross-over with the American scene referred to by some as the “indie sleaze revival.” This has seen fakemink, for example, share stages with Detroit dance duo Snow Strippers, while London’s Zukovstheworld has featured St. Louis glitchcore duo Frost Children on a track. It’s a reminder that “UK ug,” as it’s known colloquially, is something new.
The scene’s cultural roots go back to artists like Lancey Foux, Len and fimiguerrero, who were building a London scene outside the mainstream as far back as 2017 (and Giggs before them). In the last couple of years, fakemink has ascended to become the face of the underground’s more experimental sound, gaining critical acclaim with his breakout “Easter Pink” in January 2025. Beyond that track, he’s known for pitched-up vocals, waveform-crushing 808 basses and complex, layered synths, as well as electro-house flavors. In 2025, he picked up co-signs from Drake and Frank Ocean and collaborated with Drain Gang members ECCO2K and Mechatok on “MAKKA.”
Elsewhere in the UK landscape is self-producing artist Feng, who’s at the forefront of a more melodic, indie-influenced sound. Then, on the harder end sonic spectrum is EsDeeKid whose tracks are more recognizably road rap, which could be why his music has landed so well with new listeners. Hit play on this collection of tracks — featuring EsDeeKid, fakemink, YT, Feng, Ledbyher, Jim Legxacy, fimiguerrero, snoa, Llondon Actress, blimeydog and more — and discover the sound of the new UK underground.
LISTEN TO THE UK UNDERGROUND RAP PLAYLIST NOW ON SOUNDCLOUD
EsDeeKid, “Century”
The Liverpool rapper’s rumbling accent, hard bars and distorted beats have captured the public imagination, even leading to a high-profile collaboration with Timothée Chalamet on his “4 Raws” remix.
fakemink, “Easter Pink”
Known for blending elements of cloud rap and trap with blown-out melodies, the rapper received co-signs from Drake and Playboi Carti, going on to release his latest album, ‘The Boy who cried Terrified,’ in January 2026.
Feng, “J*b”
Leaning on the digicore side of the new rap wave, with an ear for indie pop melodies, Feng dropped his latest album, ‘Weekend Rockstar,’ in February 2026.
Llondon Actress, “6 hour flight”
A collaborator of Feng’s, Llondon Actress taps into a similar melodic vein, but with elements of laidback hip-hop. His latest release is 2025 EP ‘Billionaire Supervillain.’
Ledbyher, “REMEMBER REMEMBER”
A London-based rapper-producer of Indonesian heritage, Ledbyher has collaborated with fellow UK rap underground acts like PureSnow. Her latest full-length release is February 2026’s ‘The Elephant.’
YT, Fimiguerrero, “Diamonds”
Rapper/producer YT links with Nigerian, London-based rapper Fimiguerrero on this sparkling 2025 track, from YT’s ‘OI!’ album. You can find out more about YT’s rise, including his journey towards being named a SoundCloud Ascending artist, here.
Fimiguerrero, ReekzMB, “Tartan”
Bringing in a different vibe of UK underground rap, Fimiguerrero collaborates with London drill rapper ReekzMB on this brooding 2025 track.
PIXY, “Legacy”
“I don’t know why they hate on me, they can smell the legacy” riffs London’s PIXY, on this latest earworm of a track.
TR Gobrazy, “I Was Shook”
South London’s TR Gobrazy broke through as a producer, with credits on Central Cee and Dave’s mammoth hit “Sprinter.” On this 2025 solo track, he narrates street life with a drill roar and juke energy.
yukan, “Fake ID”
On this viral track, rapper Yukan taps into a bouncing energy associated with Northern rap acts. His latest album is 2025’s ‘love me while yukan.’
Young Eman, Eline De Santé Vherodia, “popstar in da bits”
A rising name in the UK scene, Sheffield’s Young Eman is known for blending drill, grime and experimental electronics. His most recent full-length is 2025’s ‘Steeze Kills.’
snoa, “missing it”
On his 2025 album ‘HE4LER,’ one of several EPs and albums the teenage rapper from Leicster has released in the past few years, he explores a blend of cloud rap, trap and digicore.
Lancey Foux, “DAYTONA”
With distorted beats and screwface-inducing melodic riffs, East London’s Lancey Foux moves between digicore, rage and cloud rap at lightning speed.
Jim Legxacy, “Father”
On his critically acclaimed 2025 album ‘Black British Music,’ Jim Legxacy presents a blend of heritage of Black UK sounds through a contemporary sound palette.
phreshboysawg, “Fuck the fame”
London rapper phreshboyswag brings an emo melodrama to his fuzzy rap tracks. He also produces under the alias DJ TEEN.
SINN6R, “Cracked”
A collaborator of fellow UK acts Ledbyher, Lancey Foux and Rico Ace, SINN6R brings a hyperactive electronic edge to the rap sound.
blimeydog, “Money never changed us”
A brand new name on the UK underground rap scene, Bradford’s blimeydog worked with fakemink-collaborating producer votekk on this 2026 track.
Len, “CHAKRa”
London’s Len’s 2024 album, ‘COBALT:SOMUCHMoRE,’ saw him flex his rage style with collaborators like BXKS and Fimiguerroro. This latest track moves into mellower territory.
elz laurent, Vat6ré, “Tenerife”
With its atmospheric adlibs and crunching bass, this collaborative track by elz laurent and Vat6ré showcases the current UK underground rap evolution.
bib sama., TayoLoxs, “LUVA”
Drawing from video game soundtrack beats, UK rapper bib sama. has called his style “nu grime.”
chris144, “eyez”
This Watford-raised rapper broke through online with his 2025 collaboration with sixzino, “millions.”
EsDeeKid, Rico Ace, “Phantom”
“Got girls flocking all over because I’m young, rich and handsome,” flexes EsDeeKid, on this 2025 track with Rico Ace.
Finessekid, Carns Hill, “Linked In”
Bridging generations and styles within contemporary UK rap, newcomer Finessekid gets linked in with pioneering drill crew Carns Hill on this dramatic 2025 track.
seyiorset, “DON’T PANIC”
seyiorset references digicore rapper OsamaSon as an influence on his rap style. His latest EP is 2025’s ‘Test Flight.’
Vat6ré, “Everlast.”
London rapper Vat6ré is dropping new tracks at a prolific rate; his most recent album is December 2025’s ‘King of the Endless.’
TeeboFG, “AH YEAH”
Since emerging on the UK underground rap scene in 2024, TeeboFG has worked with the likes of Len. His latest full-length release is 2025’s ‘RIDDLR.’
SYST7M, “DAGLANTA [KABUTO]”
Coming with a grime flow over fresh digital beats, SYST7M is gearing up to a be an in-demand MC in 2026.
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