The UK’s underground rap scene is on top of the world right now. As if last week’s Dazed’s cover story wasn’t enough, last night cover stars YT, Jim Legxacy and Kwes e linked up with CONGLOMERATE honchos Fimiguerrero and Len, as well as New Jersey streamer Plaqueboymax to produce a series of original songs for a livestream audience. From Len introducing Plaqueboymax to Magnum tonic wine to the Union Jack flags dotted around the studio, the live broadcast proved a holistic celebration of UK culture.

Taking centre stage, however, was the emerging plugg-jerk rap sound currently dominating UK underground rap sonics. The movement takes its cues both from the late 00s jerk rap scene pioneered by West Coast groups New Boyz and Audio Push, as well as the more recent frenetic distortions of rage and plugg music. It’s an intensely digital blend geared to get parties moving, and one that Plaqueboymax’s production is well positioned for, given his recent studio sessions with US rage rappers Xaviersobased and ian.

Elsewhere, the stream featured post-grime visionary Jim Legxacy gracing the emerging sound with his signature melodic delivery, and even a brief appearance from enigmatic rising rapper fakemink. Below, we break down some of the highlights from the livestream.

YT GOES VIRAL

Punching in on a rage beat produced by Plaqueboymax, the air left the room when YT rapped: “I got jeans on and they’re black, still my pockets blue / I just blew through a thousand like I’m Bonnie Blue”. The clip immediately went viral, racking up over 3 million views on TikTok in less than 24 hours since the stream aired. “Ayo! Really n***a?” shouted Plaqueboymax in disbelief. “Pause n***a, I ain’t Bonnie Blue” YT quickly qualified as the beat cut out, but it was too late. The line had already been recorded, and it’s a heater. (If you’re not yet familiar with Bonnie Blue, we’ll let you work out that bar for yourself.) 

JIM LEGXACY MAKES A BANGER FROM SCRATCH

Pulling up to the studio towards the end of the session, Jim Legxacy immediately set to work on producing his own beat from scratch. “I can do it in seven minutes, I got my friend with me,” Jim confidently announced, before proceeding to blow Plaqueboymax’s mind with a stuttered guitar sample. “Is that the sample or something you just did? What the fuck that shit sound fire!” Plaqueboymax can be heard commenting while Jim and co put the track together. In fact, Max appears so locked in with their production that he can be seen bopping his head without headphones on. That’s real talent.

LEN LEAVES EARTH

One can’t mention the UK’s emerging plugg-jerk rap sound without bringing up Len, Fimiguerrero and Lancey Foux. The trio’s 2024 Conglomerate album proved an early crystallisation of the sound on UK soil, replete with layered distortions, relentless, punched-in auto-tune vocals, and jerk rap’s signature compressed snare patterns.

It’s in this context that Stockwell’s Len pulled up to the booth and created a new wave dance banger. During the livestream, it was Len’s bombastic, half-whispered delivery that really caught Plaqueboymax’s ears, prompting him to shout into the booth: “Yo keep that flow, that shit OD!”

FIMIGUERRERO DELETES HIS TRACK

Continuing his tour of the UK’s future talent, Plaqueboymax invited fellow Conglomerate trailblazer Fimiguerrero to the studio. Throughout the broadcast, Fimi appeared to have some difficulties with Plaqueboymax’s setup, lamenting the absence of the legendary Antares autotune plugin, as well as the recording booth setup. He eventually emerged with the wave-filled sonics fans love him for, but it appears it wasn’t up to scratch. Fimiguerrero jumps out the booth and immediately deletes the recordings from Plaqueboymax’s harddrive. “I don’t think he should’ve deleted it,” said Plaqueboymax after Fimi left the studio. We agree!

FAKEMINK MAKES A MYSTERIOUS APPEARANCE

Taking inspiration from early jerk rap bangers like Drake’s “Headlines” as well as US cult heroes Xaviersobased and Phreshboyswag, Londoner Fakemink has already cemented himself as one of the leading lights of the UK’s emerging plugg-jerk scene. In less than a year since his debut, the 19-year old has secured collaborations with US artists overseas, and it’s in less than a minute that he left a similar impression on Plaqueboymax’s livestream.

Jumping into the studio in a quiet moment with his signature mullet hairstyle, Plaqueboymax could barely ask Fakemink a question before he was whisked away on seemingly urgent business. The moment left Plaqueboymax confused, and served to further build the mystique around Fakemink’s identity, who has already garnered a cult following for his jam-packed release schedule and co-signs from some of the rap scene’s biggest names.