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Arts·Commotion

Hip-hop at 50: the rise of U.K. rap with Jesse Bernard

Hip-hop might have begun in NYC, but the culture is undoubtedly a global phenomenon. DJ and music journalist Jesse Bernard joins host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to take us on a brief journey through the history of UK rap.

The DJ and music journalist take us on a brief journey through the history of U.K. rap

CBC Arts ·
UK rapper Swiss, The London Posse, and rapper Nathaniel Thompson aka Giggs.
UK rapper Swiss, The London Posse, and rapper Nathaniel Thompson aka Giggs. (Getty Images)
16:41The rise of UK rap with Jesse Bernard

In honour of hip-hop's 50th birthday this year, Commotion has been looking back on the culture's rise to dominance.

That is, hip-hop might've started in New York City, but the genre is now undeniably a global phenomenon.

One country that's made its mark on hip-hop is the U.K.

London-based music journalist and DJ Jesse Bernard joins host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to take us on a brief journey through the history of U.K. rap.

WATCH | CRY (feat. Sharifa) by SWISS:

You can listen to the full discussion from today's show on CBC Listen or on our podcast, Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Interview with Jesse Bernard produced by Ty Callender.

For more stories about the 50th anniversary of hip-hop — including Tom Power's conversations with some of the artists who witnessed and shaped the genre — check out Hip-Hop at 50 here.