Features

Born from sound system culture, dubplates were once at the heart of UK dance music: specially cut, exclusive records drove the evolution of genres from jungle to dubstep and grime. Here, Joe Roberts looks at the history of UK dubplate culture

10 DJs select their most treasured dubplates, from the original versions of classic tracks to ultra rare cuts forever etched into just a handful of discs

When his hypersexual tracks like ‘Sick Bitch’ and ‘The Devil’ came out in 2021, it seemed to some as if the fierce and ferocious LSDXOXO had materialised, fully formed, out of thin air. In reality, the Philadelphia-born Raushaan Glasgow had been honing the LSDXOXO persona for years, first as a bedroom producer, then as a key member of NYC’s clubbing underground. Now based in Berlin, with a new EP on the way and a new album in the works, Glasgow’s determined to take his project to the next level

Part of foundational crew Roll Deep, Manga St Hilare has been involved in some of grime’s most iconic tracks. He’s stuck with it as some have tried to box off the genre, or even dismiss it entirely, building a catalogue of increasingly introspective and emotional music and arguing the case for grime as an unmatched, expansive artform

In this series, Selections, we invite DJs, producers and label heads to dig into their digital crates and share the contents of their collections. This week, T.Williams spotlights disco-sampling slammers, percussive club and house heat, grimey techno, and more

Since 2014, Wisdom Teeth has been a home for electronic music that blends the synthetic with the organic, and hits a sweet spot between bass-charged velocity and daydream reverie. Alongside a two-hour mix from its catalogue, founders Facta and K-LONE chat to Eoin Murray about the friendship and adventurous palette that have shaped the imprint’s evolution

Taking lessons from his time as a teenage footballer and a life spent in North London, AntsLive knows the importance of hard work and being yourself. He speaks to DJ Mag about honing his skills, his now-famous horse riding clip, and connecting with his heritage in Sierra Leone

From underground Detroit hero to flourishing international headliner, DJ Bone has worked hard to get where he is today. He meets Joe Roberts in Amsterdam to talk about his innovative FURTHER party series, his homelessness charity, repping the Motor City overseas and keeping the funk in techno

In this series, Selections, we invite DJs, producers and label heads to dig into their digital crates and share the contents of their collections. This week, LENS spotlights 10 drum & bass and jungle rollers she can’t get enough of

Breaking (or breakdancing to the layperson) has been an essential facet of hip-hop culture since its beginning. Set to debut as an Olympic sport in 2024, a new level of recognition, pressure and excitement is sweeping through those who’ve dedicated their lives to the art. Tice Cin heads to NYC, the birthplace of hip-hop, to meet breakers and see them in competition at the Red Bull BC One World Final

DJ and broadcaster Manara has dazzled dancefloors and airwaves with her upbeat demeanour and electrifying blends of club cuts, pop tracks, and South Asian sounds. Alongside a party-starting mix, she speaks to Aneesa Ahmed about her varied musical upbringing, her Pure Spice show on BBC Asian Network, and taking inspiration from Mariah Carey, memes and more

The latest and greatest DJs and producers rising to the top this month. From sizzling breaks and snapping garage to shimmery techno, shapeshifting bass and beyond, here’s April 2023’s list of upcoming talent you should be keeping track of

In this series, Selections, we invite DJs, producers and label heads to dig into their digital crates and share the contents of their collections. This week, Surgeon spotlights psychedelic pop, modular synth jazz, timeless dub, and music to make you feel like your “brain has been soaked in a vat of LSD”

Los Angeles-based, Iranian-American artist Maral celebrates Nowruz – Persian New Year – and the arrival of spring with her 80-minute, genre-spanning Fresh Kicks mix, and speaks to Eoin Murray about sampling, the influence of nature on her music, her unconventional DJing technique, and the inherent beauty of resistance

Gqom retains a special place in electronic music culture across South Africa, like many sister variants of house music. The sound has also recently evolved with its more melodic, synthy-heavy cousin, sghubu, and uThayela, which translates as “corrugated iron” and is a rougher sound with a harder bassline made for clubs. Here, Makua Adimora asks: who are the producers pushing gqom forward right now?

Sierra Leone-born, London-raised rapper Hardy Caprio is by no means a new name on the scene, but after taking time to deal with his own trauma and heal, he's back with new music. Here, he speaks to Robert Kazandjian about his major label fallout, identity, and creating with joy

In this series, Selections, we invite DJs, producers and label heads to dig into their digital crates and share the contents of their collections. This week, Deep Jungle founder Harmony spotlights next-gen producers connecting to the sound’s roots, and longstanding artists who are still ahead of the curve

Get acquainted with Imer6ia, the artist producing music that is intense, melodic, and darkly dramatic for labels including lavibe, Rush Hour, Tremors, and The Games We Play

After six years of standalone productions and remixes, Ali “Dubfire” Shirazinia and Sharam Tayebi’s 1998 debut LP as Deep Dish marked a transition for the duo, crafting a rock / house fusion that shouldn’t work — but, 25 years on, somehow does

Named after the postcode of legendary East London club Plastic People, ec2a has been putting out red-hot dubplates and helping to cultivate the reinvigorated UKG scene by nurturing up-and-coming artists. Alongside a mix from its catalogue, founder Dr Dubplate shares the label’s story so far with Rob McCallum