HANG hip-hop & grime conference reveals full programme

Last month saw the announcement of the first edition of HANG, a new event hoping to inspire and empower Scotland's hip-hop and grime communities. With the full title Hip-Hop Aimed Networking with Grime, the aim of this new educational and cultural programme is to help Scotland-based hip-hop and grime artists make their next steps in the industry as well as bring the creativity of Scottish hip-hop and grime to a wider audience.

We’ve already reported on some of the key guests attending this year’s inaugural event, and this morning, HANG revealed its full programme, which will take place in person at Glasgow's SWG3 on Saturday 31 July, as well as online.

HANG will open with Darren McGarvey giving a primer on hip-hop’s history in Scotland alongside Aberdeen MC Ransom FA, Scottish Album of the Year 2020 winner NOVA (aka Shaheeda Sinckler) and journalist Arusa Qureshi.

Orwell Prize-winner McGarvey was among the attendees announced last month. He’s enthusiastic about this rare opportunity to bring Scotland's various hip-hop artists and fans from different generations, social backgrounds and genres together to share a collective experience. “Hip-hop culture in Scotland is well developed,” says McGarvey, “but not well integrated. This leaves many artists feeling like they exist on the outside and that the action is all happening somewhere else. HANG, in my view, could be a way to smash this perception, by supporting people to realise the truth – together we are stronger.”

The meat of the day will be a series of free panel discussions designed to help empower artists to take charge of their careers. Topics up for discussion will be ‘How to pitch your music to radio’ with Go Radio’s Aarti Joshi and Delaina Sepko of Sunny G's Beats & Breaks show and Vic Galloway off of, well, everything; ‘What platforms best support hip-hop and grime’ with input from Henca Maduro, Clash Magazine editor Robin Murray and Sami Omar, founder of Glasgow-based music platform Up2standard; and, perhaps most importantly, ‘How to monetise your music’.

Another chief talking point will be grime and hip-hop’s vital importance to Scotland’s wider community, from these genres' role in dry club nights, collaborative performances with refugees, songwriting workshops in prisons and more. Comedian Karen Dunbar (who fronted hip-hop workshops over lockdown) and Jill Brown (founder of Scotland's first label for ex-offenders) will be among those considering this topic.

HANG’s programme is also peppered with free workshops giving insight into core elements of hip-hop culture. You can learn how to breakdance with members of Glasgow dance group TheDimeStop, try your hand at spoken word with the likes of Empress, Dave Hook, Becci Wallace and Washington, and get DJ-ing tips from Steg G and DIJA. Throughout all this, you can also watch on as graffiti artist Rogue One uses a wall of Glasgow's SWG3 as the canvas for his re-creation of the HANG logo.

The night will come to a close with a live music showcase. Pick of the bill is the aforementioned NOVA, who was the first grime artist to win the SAY Award. She’s joined by rising Dundee artist and SAMA winner India Ros3, Ayrshire rapper Bemz and Mistah Bohze of Glasgow label Southside Deluxe.

In addition to these seasoned performers, there will be two more names chosen to join the bill from an open call. If you’re an emerging hip-hop or grime artist and fancy one of these spots, simply submit a link to two tracks plus a short biography to events@officialsama.com before 5pm on Friday 18th June.

McGarvey's hope is that HANG will be a step towards hip-hop becoming more integrated into mainstream culture in Scotland. “The truth is, Scotland's cultural image and standing will benefit immensely from embracing hip-hop rather than treating it like a dirty little secret," he says. “In a nation where experts scratch their heads, desperate to 'engage' young people in creativity and literacy, hip-hop provides endless opportunities and some of the world's best practitioners."

---

Tickets for the inaugural HANG are available now from Eventbrite. Day passes for the online activities are free, and tickets to attend the socially distanced evening showcase are £5 plus booking fee.

All daytime programming will be available for free on @officialSAMA Facebook and YouTube channels. For the full programme visit officialsama.com/hang