Lancey Foux & the Habitable Rap Underground

The UK rap scene itself has always been a tight knit music movement. Not only because of geography but also because they never subscribed to a genre; new styles have merged from the UK scene instead of latching onto western created lanes. 

And as of right now, the UK undoubtedly houses the poster children for new gen rap, and it’s a wide margin. Between the four main figureheads of western new gen underground (Che, Osamason, Xaviersobased, and Nettspend), their monthly listener count is 5.8 million, only 23% of the listeners of Fakemink and Esdeekid (24.6 million). 

The masses are flocking to the accent and nostalgia midnight club rage beats. But it wasn’t a movement that came out of nowhere. The alternative UK rap scene has been chipping away for years with Lancey Foux holding the torch as grandfather of the movement. 

The rapper and super model is a founding father for the modern UK new gen; the story cannot be told without Lancey Foux. His run of albums, “FRIEND OR FOUX”, “LIVE.EVIL”, and “LIFE IN HELL” were instrumental in solidifying thesound and aesthetic of alternative UK acts. The synth-heavy, raunchy hyper trap soundscape that Lancey continued to craft was rebellious and mocked at the time; many, especially in the western world mocked his efforts as a clone. But with time, these records slowly built the new-gen platform to climb on; grinding out the years of obscurity and borderline mockery from those calling him a clone. 

New acts like Fimiguerro, SINN6R, Len, YT, and more, were embraced by Lancey instead of pushed out. A veteran in the genre and unsung hero of continuously taking new artists under his wing without undermining or being jealous. Amplifying the voice of the UK and making the masses take notice of the revolution in experimentation and artistry. 

In an interview with the Red Bulletin (Red Bull’s official magazine; real clever I know), Lancey expressed his disdain for the word underground and his direct involvement in its explosion: 

“I think the wording is lazy. I would call it overground…Some of these kids now are big. The likes of EsDeeKid are on the road, at festivals, [so] it’s not underground. In terms of my inclusion, I’m a massive part of it; it’s partly created byme, and I’m super-proud of it. I think sometimes it takes a group, and I’m proud of all the guys who are making their name and doing big things. I’m always in support of them. I keep my eyes on everyone.” 

The underground (or overground) is livable  

Sometimes I imagine the underground music world is the personified as the town Lukuss from the classic cyberpunk anime, Texhnolyzed. Claustrophobic trashed out city governed by gang violence and anarchy but always on the cutting edgetechnologically (in this case sonically). Janky and dirty apartment complexes partnered to raunchy nightclubs playing the newest ear-aching music: one of the few antidotes/escapes to the unlivable corners. A forgotten about people, living literally under the world but home to the most authentic human living experience that keep trying and trying.  

But now with modernity in streams of income and accessibility, the underground is no longer a platform to build off from, it’s a fully realized creative metropolis. Lukuss might just be livable.  

The wall of popular and unpopular, mainstream and underground, built from society’s opinion has been diffused. The usually sought after gaudy numbers and mainstream co-signs happen naturally, or not at all, which is just as fine. There is no incentive to “level up”. What they need they already have. A dedicated fanbase, worldwide touring, and a relatively pressure-less creative landscape. 

Along with that, the socially defined music mainstream only throttles creative endeavors; more fans mean more opinions and less artistic authenticity. Maintaining one’s creative strive to its fullest decree, imperfect as it might be, is beyond challenging. 

Appeal to no one except yourself. The underground scene is the perfect location for the genre-less genre blenders, the chronically online ear pushers, and those looking for authenticity in artistry, many to live in, so why leave.  

Just remember to pay your rent with the currency of creation or the people will kick you out themselves.