Twenty-four Scotland based Hip Hop artists working in music, visual arts, dance, drama, literature, and screen have received bursaries totalling more than £31,000 thanks to a growing nationwide programme of support designed to strengthen and sustain Scotland’s thriving Hip Hop community.
With a doubling of funding in this, its second year from Sunny Govan Radio, UP2STNDRD, 644 Studios and The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, the Scottish Hip Hop Bursary Programme is providing one off grants of up to £1,500 to emerging and established artists towards development, presentation and promotion of new work.
From Turriff to Dumfries, Angus to Aberdeen, the bursaries are backing DJ workshops, the development of new EPs, singles, albums and music videos; dedicated writing, producing, audio engineering and dance training, the creation of new Hip Hop web series’, provision of DJ equipment and the roll out of new events.
Artist, producer, lyricist Queen of Harps (Anise Pearson – pictured above) is in development on a new EP and music video; Angus’ NoQuestion (Connor Metcalfe) is working on an instrumental beats album offering open-source material for future collaborations; and Tristyn Jay Trustler’s forthcoming album – created in memory of their mother, will form the basis for a new theatre production.
Edinburgh’s Werd (Andrew Devine), who’s using his bursary to develop a new album in collaboration with local producers, said “Sunny Govan’s always been a cornerstone in showcasing and supporting Hip Hop in Scotland.
This funding will allow anyone to progress doing what they love while easing financial concerns. I’m proud to be included and given the chance to push myself and others I work with and I encourage all independent acts to learn about these great opportunities on offer.”
Steg G of Sunny Govan Radio said: “These bursaries are an important step towards improving access to arts funding and support for new and existing Hip Hop adjacent artists to develop their skills and talents.
“Hip Hop’s energy, artistry and community spirit is alive and thriving in Scotland. It’s a culture, a movement, and a way of life. The ambition, the appetite is palpable and now we’re working together with partners to put the infrastructure and opportunities in place that will help sustain and grow Scotland’s vibrant and diverse scene.”
121 mentoring with legendary Hip Hop Artist Steg G, Talent Manager and Creative Producer Mobo Agoro or DJ and Producer K4CIE also features this year, alongside availability of additional access costs.
Jenny Tipton, Place, Partnerships & Communities Officer at Creative Scotland said: “Now in its second year, we’re excited to be able to provide refreshed opportunities for Scotland’s growing Hip Hop community and pleased to be able to offer increased provision, additional mentoring opportunities and further access support for each bursary.
“In a time of increased uncertainty for the creative sector, small bursary programmes like these are more important than ever to support artists to develop their careers and provide sustained opportunity across the multi art form genre that is Scottish Hip Hop. It’s with thanks to The National Lottery that we’re able to continue to support this programme.”
| Artist | Project Summary | Location | Amount £ |
| Karin Bezchlebova | DJ workshops for women in hip hop, supporting guest women DJs to deliver sessions. | Glasgow | £1,500 |
| Gracia Brill | 6 track EP for CrayTwinz that also documents the creative process via video so that it can be shared with other artists as a resource. | Dunbar | £1,000 |
| Steven Buckby | Hip Hop writing and producing workshops for women over 21 in Polmont Prison. | Fife | £1,478 |
| AJ Crawford | Two new singles with accompanying music videos. | Glasgow | £1,500 |
| Sean Cosgrove | Web series showcasing young Scottish MCs in a cypher format with artist as DJ. | Glasgow | £1,000 |
| Ibrahim Dikko | Collaborating with local videographer to develop music video for new music release. | Glasgow | £1,035 |
| Andrew Divine | New album for Werd (SOS) working with local producers. | Edinburgh | £1,500 |
| Yas Farzan | Filmed DJ sets showcasing 4 under-represented Hip Hop artists in Scotland. | Glasgow | £1,050 |
| Rowena Gatenby | Equipment to support artists development in DJing, and MCing. | Aberdeen | £1,500 |
| Lewis Linich | Audio engineering workshops for early career audio engineers and producers. | Glasgow | £1,500 |
| Connor Metcalfe | 16 track instrumental project by NoQuestion creating an open source beats material for future collaboration. | Angus | £879 |
| John Lee Miller | 5 track EP that highlights theme of mental health. | Glasgow | £1,000 |
| Andre Muvuti | 7 tracks with 7 Scottish producers focusing on spoken word pieces to be developed into music. | Glasgow | £1,500 |
| Ian Nijdam | Producing a collaborative Hip Hop EP with artists based across Scotland. | Glasgow | £1,250 |
| Anise Pearson | Develop new EP and music video for Queen of Harps. | Edinburgh | £1,000 |
| Harry Raitt | 3 track release, with recording, mixing, artwork and visuals collaborating with Scottish based creatives. | Turriff | £1,500 |
| Jordan Robertson | Collection of music videos to support development of work. | Glasgow | £1,000 |
| Alexander Romance | Live music event supporting under-represented artists in Hip Hop. | Dumfries and Galloway | £1,150 |
| Joe Rosenthal | Music video for band AROMA collaborating with rapper Skittles. | Glasgow | £1,500 |
| Nadia Sewnauth | Midgierakers Unite Dance workshops in collaboration with Shelltoe Mel, offering sessions for women and young people to learn different Hip Hop Dance styles. | Dumbarton | £1,500 |
| Sarah-Jayne Simpson | 2 tracks exploring contemporary life in the North East of Scotland. | Aberdeen | £1,262 |
| Faris El Sheikh | Working with producer Stu Brown and filmmaker Meray Dinar and contemporary dancer to develop a new song, music video and dance piece. | Glasgow | £1,500 |
| TJ Trusler | Album created in their mother’s memory, that will form the basis for a theatrical production. | Edinburgh | £1,500 |
| David Wark | Collaborating with Big City Brains in Copenhagen, two dance artists from the popping scene in Glasgow will travel to Copenhagen to meet this dance collective and develop a sustainable model of artist development for dancers. | Glasgow/Copenhagen | £1,500 |
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