FIFTEEN Scottish-based hip hop artists working in music, visual arts, dance and film have have received bursaries totalling £16,379, thanks to a new pilot programme.
The scheme, run by Sunny G, UP2STNDRD and 644 Studios, with backing from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, is designed to help increase opportunities and address inequality.
The individual bursaries of up to £1500 are supporting the research, development, rehearsal and recording of new work from artists across Scotland, creating conditions in which hip hop artists can thrive in the development, presentation and promotion of their own work.
Artists benefitting from the programme include singer, rapper and actor Clarissa Woods from Glasgow. North-east rapper Chef (Ola Akinsanya) will collaborate with local artists based in Aberdeen on a music video and visual arts project, while Glasgow’s Shelltoe Mel (Melanie Leck) will record new work in collaboration with a women-led recording studio, amongst others.
On being awarded a bursary, Aberdeen’s rising hip hop star Chef said: “This bursary has given me the chance to get closer to fully realising my goals without having to compromise due to budget. Being acknowledged has also given me more belief in the work we are doing and allowed me to think of more innovative ideas to implement in the future.”
Steg G of Sunny G Radio said: “It was exciting to discover all the amazing artists within Scottish hip hop that applied to the Hip Hop Bursary. The standard of supporting materials was exceptional and the ideas for the projects were very exciting. It’s really inspiring to see how strong and diverse the hip hop scene Is within Scotland.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here