DJ AG’s Street Sets Garner Millions of Views, Drawing Acclaim from Artists Including Skepta and Lethal Bizzle

On a dark, drizzly London night, a crowd congregates around a set of decks, drawn by DJ AG, whose street sets have garnered significant notice. He extends an open invitation for anyone to take a microphone and perform rap verses alongside him. Initially conceived as a platform to highlight emerging artists, the initiative has recently seen participation from prominent acts such as Skepta, JME, Chip, Krept & Konan, Ms Banks, Devlin, ArrDee, and Lethal Bizzle. While DJ AG consistently attracts live audiences, thousands more observe his performances on social media, with his streams accumulating millions of views on TikTok. He informed BBC Newsbeat that these events are spontaneous, stating he “just rocks up with decks and sees what happens.” DJ AG commented, “The sets aren’t new but the fact they’re broadcasting them across the planet means people have an opportunity to get their music out there in an organic way.” He added, “The great thing is we’ve shaken up the industry.” Aspiring artists face increasing difficulty in securing opportunities to display their talent. Data published earlier this year by the Music Venues Trust indicated that financial pressures caused 125 UK venues to cease hosting live music in 2023. This situation is cited as a motivation for DJ AG’s sets. He explained, “What’s different now is there’s nothing at grassroots,” noting, “You’ve got a lot of open mics closed down.” He continued, “Right now, outside, we’re not paying for anything. A bit of power and we’re bringing it to the streets.” He emphasized, “On this platform, it’s free. The emerging artists don’t have to pay anything.” Rapper Louis Massey and his manager Kaianne Lewis Sapong believe these sets not only create opportunities but also provide a distinct listening experience. Lewis, 22, stated, “For me, it can help. It’s only one viral moment away from your career taking off.” She added, “This is exciting. This is organic. This is the rap scene which came from the organic scene.” Kaianne, 22, concurred that the industry currently feels “stale.” She remarked, “I complain about it frequently. Me and my artists want to really solidify our base so we can bring a difference to the UK because it sounds a bit repetitive at the moment.” She concluded, “There’s a lot of talent in the UK but it’s not being pushed to the forefront.” Grime music originated from the electronic dance scene in the early 2000s, with support from underground and pirate radio stations. Grime MC D Double E noted that the authentic character of these live sets, which occasionally evoke a pirate radio atmosphere, recalls his personal experience. He shared, “I learned this from lockdown. Everyone was going online, doing sets and it was a great look.” He continued, “When it stopped happening – I was like ‘why has it stopped?'” He concluded, “To see people doing it now – like it’s new. It’s great.” The record producer, with over 20 years in the industry, stated he “broke out in the same way,” by “Doing a set for no reason.” He highlighted a key distinction: “But it wasn’t being recorded and people couldn’t watch it.” He added, “This is the difference now – you can actually see it. Some of our famous sets, Roll Deep [the grime collective], Dizzee Rascal, you can’t see us, only hear us.” He predicted, “You’re gonna see more talent. More windows [opening]. That’s what’s supposed to happen when the light’s shining.” He also suggested it would foster greater originality following a period where things felt “a bit robotic.” He observed, “For some reason, everyone just went international and the UK voice wasn’t there.” He concluded, “Now it’s just straightening up a bit more.” DJ Target of 1Xtra, another pioneer in grime, believes audiences are currently “enjoying that early essence” of the genre, describing it as “That self-sufficient, just turning up at places, those live moments.” He expressed, “So seeing that in 2024, a new generation getting stuck in and doing the same – I love to see it.” He aligns with artists like Skepta, who contend that “creativity sometimes get lost in the music industry.” Target stated, “It’s good to get back to that raw, straight to the consumer, sometimes direct from the street, untouched raw talent.” He concluded, “Seeing this happen in 2024, I feel there’s only going to be inspiration for the next generation.” He added, “And we’re probably going to see a few stars come out of it.”