Music
The world's biggest, loudest, most unpredictable music battle: this year’s Red Bull Culture Clash is unlike any other. As four crews face off in London, here's what sets them apart.
Few events rival Red Bull Culture Clash, where A$AP Rocky rides in on a quad bike, Annie Mac drenches JME in beer and Usher appears unannounced.
Rooted in Jamaican sound-clash culture, the rules are simple: four crews face-off over four rounds and the crowd crowns the winner. However, victory demands more than just showing up. For any chance of snatching the win, crews must bring their heaviest sound, best tracks, dubplate specials (iconic tracks re-recorded by the artist to big-up one crew or trash another), surprise guests and a skin thick enough to withstand the mockery from opponents, which is all part and parcel of the format.
01
Making history and setting records
Red Bull Culture Clash has been making history since its 2010 debut, where Goldie's Metalheadz claimed victory. Legends like Skream & Benga, Wiley, Stormzy, Wiz Khalifa and A$AP Mob have all battled for the crown since then.
In 2014, Rebel Sound – Chase & Status, Shy FX and David Rodigan – got TV news icon Sir Trevor McDonald to diss their rivals. Two years later, J Hus famously took an Uber straight from prison to the stage. Surprise guests have included Rita Ora, Katy B, Sam Smith and Tinchy Stryder, while exclusive dubs have come from Rihanna and Drake.
Star power alone won't win, though – crews need the hardest sounds. House, trap, garage, reggae, grime and dancehall have all shaped the clash, with performances doubling as live music history lessons. Boy Better Know's fiery 2014 set fueled grime's resurgence, while Mixpak's 2016 win proved a non-UK crew could triumph in London.
Now, after a nine-year break, Red Bull Culture Clash is back in the capital, so meet the musical heavyweights leading their crews into battle.
02
Introducing the crew - Native Soundsystem
The Native Soundsystem is led by Teezee, a musical maverick from Nigeria who's blazed a trail for alternative Afrobeat sounds, making his influence felt across continents.
Inspired by visionaries like Dr. Dre, Pharrell and Don Jazzy, Teezee saw music as more than just sound. "These were the sort of people who did more than just music,” he says. Gathering a powerful Native Soundsystem crew for Red Bull Culture Clash, then, is firmly within Teezee's wheelhouse. "As the first Afrobeats group to ever join Red Bull Culture Clash, I'm honoured to represent my home. I want to reflect the global music industry of today. We’re ready to win."
NSG
The east London Afroswing team are regulars at the top of the UK Afrobeats chart. "NSG represents what modern Afro music is about," Teezee says. "They're descendants of Ghanaian and Nigerian heritage who've lived in London and carved out a niche for themselves."
Spinall
The songwriter, producer and label boss has worked with Afrobeats A-listers including Wizkid and Tiwa Savage, and was the first Nigerian DJ to play Glastonbury: "We're winning with Spinall. He's the biggest DJ right now."
Michael Dapaah
NATIVE Soundsystem's host for the night, the rapper and comedian from Croydon has won millions of fans with his YouTube series Somewhere in London, starring alter-ego Big Shaq and the rap hit Man's Not Hot: "He represents the multifaceted Africans in the diaspora."
Pa Salieu
The Coventry-born rapper and singer of Gambian descent mixes elements of Afrobeat, grime and UK drill, which won him the BBCs Sound Of award in 2021, as well as work with the likes of FKA twigs: "Pa Salieu is the perfect representation of Afro influence in UK rap culture."
Brazy
The Nigerian-British artist, who can rap in English, Yoruba, French and Mandarin, performed her ‘Afro- sexy’ sound at Paris Fashion Week in 2023: "She brings the new-generation outlook on Afrobeats."
03
Introducing the crew - Homegrown
The Homegrown crew is led by no other than Jyoty. Whether she's beaming out diverse selections digitally or direct to the dancefloor, always expect the unexpected from this Dutch club kid, radio presenter and musical polymath
"I'll still be clubbing when I'm 50,” says Jyoty Singh. "The club space is where I found who I really was. I'm the strongest version of myself on the dancefloor. It's where I’m invincible." Jyoty's curatorial nous will make her a formidable force when she leads her Homegrown crew, representing electronic music, into this year's Red Bull Culture Clash.
Flowdan
British MCs don't come much bigger than this. The son of a soundsystem stalwart, co-founder of grime pioneers Roll Deep and a Grammy winner for Rumble – his 2023 collab with Skrillex and Fred Again – Flowdan made his Red Bull Culture Clash debut with Boy Better Know in 2014. "Who can actually chat to him?" says Jyoty. "He's always stayed true to himself."
Lil Silva
Jyoty started out as a fan of this Bedford-based producer, before becoming his friend, and she says he was an obvious choice for her crew: "Lil Silva is one of the biggest funky house producers and also the man behind Sam Smith and Adele songs. That's versatility."
Stush
High-energy performances, a distinctive vocal style and a back catalogue that spans UK garage, electronica, hip hop, dancehall and reggae – the south London rapper and MC has it all. Jyoty says: "I wanted someone with an iconic, recognisable voice. Someone who could grab, and then hold, the crowd."
Conducta
"Conducta is a UK garage heavyweight," says Jyoty. The producer and co-writer of UK rapper AJ Tracey's breakthrough track Ladbroke Grove has single-handedly created a new wave of UKG steppers through his label, club night and his skills at the decks. "He’s the perfect person. I needed him."
04
Introducing the crew - Spice Army
Unwavering energy powered Spice's rise to the top of Jamaica’s ultra-competitive dancehall scene. Then, she brought that subculture to the world. The Queen of Dancehall doesn't go into an event like Red Bull Culture Clash feeling nervous. For one, she's already been part of a winning crew, having appeared with Mixpak in 2016, when she arrived on stage doing the running splits.
Ahead of the London return, she has no doubt in her mind: "As a proud Jamaican woman, ready for anything and going up against everyone there, just let them know when I come to the UK, everything a-get shelled down to the ground!"
WSTRN
Following a strong start – their 2015 debut, In2, went double platinum – the west London trio's blend of Afroswing, R&B, grime, dancehall and hip-hop has built a dedicated fanbase. "WSTRN will bring that melodic flow," Spice says.
Mak10
Formerly the main DJ for legendary grime collective NASTY Crew, the east Londoner is now killing it on TikTok and Instagram with his live DJ sets on the road: "You cannot say grime without saying Mak10!"
Rampage
The trailblazing UK soundsystem does more to fuse Caribbean and British culture than most and hosted early Carnival sets by Wiley and Stormzy: "Ya can't go round dem!"
Noah Powa
The NYC-based dancehall star is a veteran of Red Bull Culture Clash in Jamaica and the US: "His experience is just what my team needed"
Richie Feelings
The selector from Kingston was an easy choice: "He’s been my personal DJ for over a decade, so our chemistry is what I needed."
Jiggy D
All-star collabs are second nature to the DJ and producer, whose DND album gathers dancehall talent old and new: "He knows how to rock crowds."
Loyal Squad
With their mix of dancehall, hip-hop and Afrobeats, the DJ collective have a reputation on the street for bringing the party: "The root of clashing involves foundation!"
05
Introducing the crew - Voice of the Streets
With skill, charm and persistence, Radio 1 DJ and presenter Kenny Allstar has earned his place at the top – and brought some of the world's most exciting rap talent with him.
Allstar is taking his enterprising energy and long list of A-list contacts to Red Bull Culture Clash, where he'll lead his Voice of the Streets crew into battle, representing – of course – UK rap. "You see me, yeah, it's all about the music," he says. "That's how we’re going to win this thing. We're more than ready for it. We built it, now we're showcasing it to the world. I've been preparing for this my whole life."
Snoochie Shy
Calling up the BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ was a no-brainer. "She brings the vibes, the energy and that fearless mic game," Kenny says.
Andy Purnell
The hip-hop, house and grime DJ has spun for some of the best, from Central Cee to Boy Better Know: "He can read a crowd like no other."
DJ AG
The Tottenham native, who shot to fame with TikToks of star-studded street sets, is a formidable force: "He's the voice of the people."
Big Narstie
The rapper, comedian and BAFTA winner already tasted victory in 2016 with Mixpak: "Narstie’s a legend. His charisma, his bars…"
Ghetts
Few would want to battle London’s lyrical assassin: "Ghetts is pure fire. His ability to take control of any style of riddim is second to none."
Cristale
Still only 24, the drill star and actor has won hundreds of thousands of TikTok views with her freestyles: "She’s the future: sharp and fearless."
MC Bushkin
The north Londoner was a member UK garage and grime pioneers Heartless Crew: "He’s a triple war OG! He’s got that timeless flavour."
