UK
Spotify Rumored to Launch “Supremium” Subscription Band Later This Year
Spotify is rumored to be launching a more expansive subscription service to its platform by the end of 2023.The new subscription band is titled the "Supremium" service and plans to offer HiFi audio and expanded audiobook access. However, despite Spotify's announcement to introduce lossless HiFi audio quality under the "Spotify Connect" umbrella in February 2021, the feature has yet to become available.As per Bloomberg, Spotify has new plans to add an expanded selection of audiobooks, rather than sell titles individually, while "Premium" members to the streaming service will have access to a specific number of free hours or titles each month.Commenting on the new plans, Gustav Söderström told The Verge that HiFi was still underway, and stated that when Spotify announced its introduction "th...
Samuel Ross Appointed as Beats Principal Design Consultant
British designer Samuel Ross is on an upward trajectory, establishing himself at the top of the UK landscape. From unveiling his first partnership with Nike to opening his COARSE exhibition at Friedman Benda in New York City, Samuel Ross is unstoppable and enters the tech world with the right foot forward. Samuel Ross has just been appointed Beats' Principal Design Consultant. As the first-ever Principal Design Consultant, the A-COLD-WALL* designer will work alongside Beats and Apple to develop industrial design strategies for new tech gear. Ross will focus on creating sustainable packaging, eco-friendly materials, and premium finishes alongside industrial design studio SR_A. Speaking on his new role, Samuel Ross says: “It's an honour to join Beats as the first Principal Design Consultant....
Central Cee, Rob49, Lola Brooke and More in 2023 XXL Freshman Class
The highly anticipated XXL Freshman Class for 2023 has been announced, unveiling a new wave of emerging talent in the hip-hop industry who have been selected based on their impact on the game since their inception.Among the names on the list is West London's Central Cee with the rhymer becoming the first UK-based musician to be selected since Stefflon Don, who made the list in 2018. Cench's inclusion, which comes following the success of his transatlantic smash record, "Doja," marks another significant moment for UK rap, as he continues to break down international barriers and garner attention on a global scale. View this post on Instagram A post shared by XXL (@xxl)Alongside Central Cee on the latest XXL Freshman Class is a melange of exciting talent; such as Lola Brooke, Rob49,...
Little Simz Drops Impressive Visuals for “Gorilla”
UK rap star and actress Little Simz has just released her latest single, "Gorilla," taken from her critically-acclaimed album, NO THANK YOU.Simz's latest album arrived smaller in scale in comparison to the movie-like Sometimes I Might Be Introvert. However, the latest album -- which has been exclusively produced by Inflo -- still incorporates similar sonics such as live orchestra elements, and a full choir for added substance. With this in mind, the project is full of many highlights, with one coming in the form of "Gorilla."The record has been a shining light since the release of the album, and now the single has some visuals to go with it. As a whole, the song gives an overwhelming "started from the bottom" energy, one that outlines the journey Simz has endured to arrive at her current p...
Jorja Smith and Nia Archives Call All Junglists With “Little Things” Remix
After a short hiatus, Jorja Smith made her return earlier this year with the song "Try Me," while also announcing that her next album is on the way. Then, following the stripped-back return record, Smith came back with something different: arguably the track of the summer, "Little Things." Now, the Walsall-based performer is keeping up the momentum with a fresh remix, enlisting D&B and jungle specialist Nia Archives for a new take on the track.This new remix from Smith isn't the first time the singer has supported a rising female artist in the UK, either. In 2020, Smith hopped on to Enny's "Peng Black Girls," a record that stands up for female excellence. Now, Smith's latest release sees her link up with Leeds-raised DJ, Nia Archives, giving "Little Things" a fresh rebirth with a heavy...
Catching Up With Stormzy, Grime’s Golden Child
“I have no idea how I’ve gotten here.”This is the typically grounded response that Stormzy, real name Michael Ebenazer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr, gave Hypebeast when questioned on how he’s achieved his stratospheric level of success.The rapper – who is currently settling down after releasing his third studio album, This Is What I Mean – has become a mainstay in British music, using his grime roots and passion for writing to articulate the environment he grew up in, his relationship with God, and his tricky (and sometimes public) experiences with love.When Stormzy came into the rap game, he offered something new. 2013 was a year packed with competitiveness in the grime scene following its fresh rebirth and Big Mike’s Wicked Skengman series made the rapper become the new kid on the block.He used ...
Glastonbury Festival 2023 to Run Entirely on Renewable Energy
Glastonbury Festival has announced that it will run entirely on renewable energy for its upcoming 2023 edition.It's been confirmed that all of the festival's production areas will either run on electricity from lower impact, fossil fuel-free sources, or through solar PV and battery hybrid systems.Additionally, a temporary wind turbine will also be used to supply a selection of market stalls with energy, while all generators will be powered by sustainable and renewable palm oil-free HVO fuel, made from waste cooking oil.The news comes following the announcement from the festival's Arcadia stage, which stated that it will run entirely on recycled energy for the first time this year. Commenting on social media, Glastonbury said: "We’re very pleased to report that all of Glastonbury 2023’s pow...
Real Madrid Completes Transfer For Jude Bellingham
Real Madrid has completed the signing of Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund, with the England midfielder agreeing a six-year contract at the Bernabéu.Bellingham's former club, Dortmund -- who Bellingham signed for when he was 17 -- confirmed in a statement last week that Madrid had agreed to pay an initial £88.5m GBP for the 19-year-old and Real Madrid confirmed on Wednesday that the deal was complete."Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund have agreed on the transfer of the player Jude Bellingham, who will remain linked to our club for the next six seasons," Real Madrid said in a statement. "Tomorrow [June 15], the presentation ceremony for Jude Bellingham as a new Real Madrid player will take place. After, Jude Bellingham will appear before the media."As one of England's top performers at...
Take a Look at the Official Premier League Match Ball for the 2023/24 Season
Now the official Premier League fixtures have been announced for the 2023/24 campaign, England's top division has just presented its official Nike Flight match ball for the upcoming season.The new ball has been described as the perfect mix between "art and science," due to its orange paint swirl design and the integrated AerowSculpt technology. As a whole, the new Flight ball is designed to promote increased air movement around the ball, reducing any unstable movement and making the ball fly smoothly through the air.Meanwhile, the vibrant orange design has been applied to an understated white foundation, while speckles of black in a curved formation surround the ball to make it more eye-catching when it's in motion.The design also takes inspiration from the diversity of over 121 nationalit...
Banksy’s First Solo Exhibition In 14 Years Is Coming to Glasgow
Concealed graffiti artist Banksy has confirmed his first solo exhibition in over a decade will soon open at Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art. The elusive graffiti artist has revealed that CUT & RUN will showcase dozens of stencils used throughout his career. Banksy will showcase his behind-the-scenes process for the first time, examining the creation of several famous artworks. Banksy will exhibit stencils used for Kissing Coppers, which resides on the walls of Prince Albert pub in Brighton. Outlines for Bristol's Mobile Lovers will also be displayed, expressing an embraced couple secretly looking at their phones. Furthermore, Stormzy's Union flag stab vest worn during his headlining set at Glastonbury in 2019 will be available for all to see. Lastly, Banksy will explain how he shredded...
Channel 4’s New Idents Depict an Honest and Humble Modern Great Britain
Channel 4 is largely regarded as a pioneer of modern Great British television, known for award-winning comedies like The Inbetweeners, fly-on-the-wall documentaries such as One Born Every Minute, epochal series' like Skins and This Is England, and of course, cultural phenomenons like Big Brother, Gogglebox, and Countdown. These programs are cornerstones of British identity, which -- along with some groundbreaking documentaries on the gritty underbelly of societies -- has defined Channel 4 as a progressive broadcaster. Now, it doubles down on its ethos with a new series of idents, each championing a modern British society.The new idents (which is a short clip that plays between shows to identify the channel) were made by the company's in-house creative agency 4creative in collaboration with...
Nia Archives Gets Spooky In New Single “Off Wiv Ya Headz”
Yorkshire-born artist Nia Archives has been very busy as of late, having recently released her new EP Bang Ur Head Against Tha Wall while scooping up several British music awards in the process. To kick off the summertime, Nia Archives has prepared a spooky remix of Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Heads Will Roll." The eerie track was initially blasted during the musician's performance at Warehouse Project in Manchester last year and now receives full release. The three-minute track titled "Off Wiv Ya Headz" reinterprets A Trak's remix of the song to create a club-ready banger designed for the dancefloor. The upbeat track sees Archives' lo-fi jungle personality bless "Off Wiv Ya Headz" on every beat while the music video follows her around New York City's skyline, the subway system, and more. Take a clo...
