UK rap has gained worldwide popularity over the past decade, but has reached new heights over recent years, to the level where we are gaining just as much recognition as the US market. This has been made possible due to UK rap pioneers, such as Giggs, So Solid Crew, Dizzee Rascal, Skepta, and newer acts such as Dave, Digga D, Stormzy (just to name a few). 

Me speaking as a UK native and heavy consumer/fan of both UK and US rap and black culture, thought if the two markets were to do a ‘verzuz-styled’ competition, who would win?

What the matchup will be based on:

• Noticeable similarities (both in musical style or other aspects I’ve found interesting)
• Longevity
• Quality of music
• All-round performance 

(DISCLAIMER! - this list was not made to cause any upset, the critique and opinions are solely my own and this article was made for entertainment and debate purposes only)

Skepta VS ASAP Rocky

I’m sure you all saw this one coming and undoubtedly so, due to both artists sharing similar musical tastes, aesthetics, lifestyles etc. We’ve seen Rocky and Skepta use their shared interests to create tracks, such as ‘Praise The Lord’ and ‘Ghost Ride’ (the latter being my favourite track that both artists feature on), where their chemistry is unmatched.

I would say the result for this matchup would be a tie, due to how difficult it would be to crown a winner.

Tracks I recommend you listen to:

ASAP Rocky - Jukebox Joints (ft. Joe Fox, Kanye West)

Skepta - Pure Water

LD VS Chief Keef

Similar to the popular Skepta and ASAP Rocky similarity, the Chief Keef and LD (Scribz) has been discussed numerous times also. I can see why this has been a popular comparison, both artists have been labeled ‘the godfather of drill’ from both their respective markets. LD was able to bless the UK with the unforgettable anthem and mixtape (alongside 67 as a whole) ‘Lets Lurk’, whilst Chief Keef inspired a generation and sound with hits like ‘I Don’t Like’, ‘Love Sosa’ and his highly appreciated mixtape ‘Finally Rich’.

I believe Chief Keef wins this matchup just due to what he was able to popularise and near enough to create at the age of 16-17. There’s also the debate that Chief Keef popularised the very genre that enabled LD to flourish. 

Tracks I recommend you listen to:

Chief Keef - Love No Thotties

LD/Scribz - Wicked & Bad

NSG VS Dipset

Now we’re getting into the interesting debates, and I can already tell a few of you are in disgust but allow me to explain myself. Although both groups have completely different sounds, I’m primarily basing this matchup around influence, and even though it sounds ludicrous to compare the two, they both have had great influence in both their scenes and era’s. Dipset brought a certain swagger about them to their dress sense, lyrics/music and videos, to the point people are still dressing like Camron with the pink for 2000’s themed parties. NSG have done the same with the new generation of UK citizens from their fashion, to quality of music, and till this day I still see people quote NSG Papii’s line on their Instagram posts “Drip is confirmed”.

I believe Dipset won this matchup, just due to their influence spanning the globe (even though NSG have reached African and Caribbean countries, which is still huge).

Tracks I recommend you listen to:

Dipset - Hey Ma 

NSG - Trust Issues

Showkey (R.I.P) VS Tay K

This matchup is a debate of what could have been, due to the negative effects that cut both artists' music careers and overall life short. Showkey was a talented young artist (specialising in drill), from South London, known for his clever wordplay, whilst keeping his music raw and authentic. He was destined to be the biggest drill rapper in the country, with potential to branch into other genres and be marketable to a global scale, racking millions of views by the age of 16. However, his life was cut short after a violent stabbing where he attended a party, rest in paradise.

Tay K was seen to be one of the only few rappers of his time who were actually rapping about what they were living, and fans and the public were shocked when he dropped his hit song ‘The Race’,  with the whole song describing what was going on in his life at that very moment. The song instantly went viral and even had a remix featuring Atlanta’s 21 Savage and Lil Yachty, as well as Tyga. However, Tay K was sentenced to 55 years in jail for the crimes that were brought against him.

I believe Showkey would win this matchup if it were to happen, due to how talented and natural music was for him, and how he had managed to make a solid name for himself as a minor in the scene. Again, rest in paradise Showkey.

Tracks I recommend you listen to:

Tay K - I <3 My Choppa

Showkey - Mad about Bars freestyle

Young Adz VS Lil Durk

On initial thought, this matchup seems like an easy win for US artist Lil Durk due to how he’s one of the biggest artists in the world at the minute, but I believe this is an interesting debate. 

Both artists are leaders of their respective scenes and are diverse in their sounds, where they can be melodic but then can deliver tracks where they show off their lyrical element. These two  artists have been making music and perfecting their craft, with tracks dating as far back as 2012. Each artist has also built a strong fan base, mainly with female listeners with their highly publicised relationships and heartfelt tracks.

I believe the result for this matchup to be a tie, due to the many similarities of both artists, where they both have instantly recognisable tracks that are festival and radio worthy and both have a huge loyal following.

Tracks I recommend you listen to:

Lil Durk - All Love

D-Block Europe - Perkosex (Young Adz & Dirtbike LB)

 

Central Cee VS NBA Youngboy

This is one of my more controversial matchups, due to both artists not having a similar music sound but both artists have more in common than many believe. The number one similarity both artists share is their value to their area of the music industry, both being worth millions. NBA Youngboy for the past few years has been able to generate millions of views on his personal YouTube channel and overall streaming platforms, the same path Central Cee has been taking in and making his own, whilst being independent in the process. Even with NBA Youngboy currently being on house arrest, he’s still dictating the US market with back to back music videos, tracks, and projects all done at his home, proving his worth to the industry and showing how loyal his fan base is. Central Cee has been able to do a similar low-key approach to his music videos, with his noticeable track ‘Obsessed With You’ being a vlog-style video, racking up millions of views.

I enjoy both artists' music but I believe Central Cee would win this matchup in the category of music, due to me believing NBA Youngboy’s music is more of an acquired taste to the wider audience (although I believe he’s a phenomenal musician).

Tracks I recommend you listen to:

NBA Youngboy - Make No Sense

Central Cee - Loading

 

Nemzzz VS Dougie B

This matchup is for newcomers from both the UK and US rap scene, and I believe these two artists make ‘feel-good type drill’ (which is crazy to say out loud). 

Nemzzz is a newcomer from Manchester, UK, who has been making noise since he released his breakout single ‘Elevate’, which has quickly gained millions of views on YouTube and streaming platforms. I personally like him for his easygoing flow and ability to capture listeners with his energy, definitely someone to get used to for the rest of the year.

Dougie B is a relative newcomer from the Bronx, New York, who has been blowing up over the past year with his friends and associates Kay Flock and B-Lovee. He specialises in what fans have called ‘sample-drill’, and has been in the forefront of the sound dropping tracks such as ‘Shake It’ (which features grammy award winner Cardi B, Kay Flock and Bory300), that are going viral on social media and resulting in millions of views.

I enjoy both artists' music heavily and would like to see how they progress their careers in the future. 

Although I’d say it’s two early for these two to do a verzuz, I believe Nemzzz would win this tight matchup in the aspect of quality music and the fact that the tracks that are getting widespread attention are only featuring himself. However, in the performance aspect, I believe Dougie B is winning just due to how much energy he brings to everything he does, just look at his social media and YouTube.

Tracks I recommend you listen to:

Dougie B - Brotherly Love (ft Kay Flock & B-Lovee)

Nemzzz - 2ms

 

Clavish VS Pooh Shiesty

This matchup is an interesting take, due to Pooh Shiesty being locked up at the height of his career and Clavish gaining more and more notoriety for his music each day. Both artists are ‘street rappers’, detailing their lifestyle to the listeners ears. 

Pooh Shiesty, who’s from South Memphis, Tennessee, blew up from a string of hits such as ‘Beatbox remix’ (featuring Florida rapper Spottemgottem, a track that went viral on social media), and ‘Back in Blood’ (featuring Lil Durk), and was quickly becoming known as a rapper who was not making a persona for his career, and this was his everyday life. 

Clavish, who’s from North London, UK, blew up from freestyles he was creating and dropping on major UK platforms, with his signature laid-back flow offering something different. His ‘Mad about Bars’ freestyle he dropped in 2019, made him a rapper to take seriously in the UK rap scene. He’s recently dropped his single ‘Greece’ that is currently on 1.2 million views and counting on YouTube alone.

Although I believe Pooh Shiesty is winning this matchup as of now, I believe Clavish would win if he keeps doing what he’s doing within the foreseeable future. But as of now Shiesty’s track ‘Back in Blood’ alone would have Clavish in game, set and match.

Tracks I recommend you listen to:

Pooh Shiesty - Should’ve Ducked (ft Lil Durk)

Clavish - ‘Sold Out Dates’ or his ‘Plugged In’ freestyle with Fumez the Engineer

  

Thank you for taking the time to read my first article and my thoughts on this topic, and I hope you aren’t too upset with my choices. Let me know what you agree and disagree with, what other interesting matchups you believe should happen, and if you would like a part 2 to this article (remember this article was not created to upset or cause harm to anyone).

Also I would love feedback and overall tips on how I can better this for you the listeners!