In the two years since the self-release of their debut single, Subculture Sage have managed to carve quite a reputation for themselves as one of the UK’s most innovative hip-hop acts. Comprised of producer Subculture Sounds and MC Hypeman Sage, the North London duo are riding high on a wave of new acts shaping the genre into something much more contemporary. Offering low-slung vocals and spliced-up samples over experimental electronic beats, it’s a sound that’s undeniably London.
Next month sees the release of their debut mixtape ‘Big Smoke Autumn Blues’. Like all good hip-hop records before it, it packs a political punch about the struggles of urban living. The boys wrote it between their pads in Piccadilly and Dalston, and were determined to shine a light on the small corners that make up a big city: “As a story, a city has no beginning and no end – just circular movements of love, bullshit, happiness and whatever else.” Deep or what? You’ll have to hold out until 18th April for your free download of the full mixtape, but luckily you can give the title track an exclusive spin below to tide you over until then.