After a break, the Red Bull Culture Clash – known as the world’s largest musical battle – made its spectacular comeback to London over the weekend. A warm spring vibe filled Tottenham’s Drumsheds venue as food and drink trucks circled the area, and excitement built as crowds filed into the main room where different stages were set for the showdown.
Four teams competed head-to-head over four rounds: Homegrown, led by Jyoty; Voice of the Streets, directed by Kenny Allstar; Spice Army, fronted by Spice; and Native Soundsystem, guided by Teezee.
Once the clash kicked off, the atmosphere was electrifying. Hosts Dotty and Yinka established the rules before Round One soared into an exhilarating tempo. Each team took the opportunity to present signature tracks from their collections. The initial hour felt like a blend of everyone’s favorite playlists, with Spice and Flowdan (representing Homegrown) diving into dubs right away, while Native Sound System and Michael Dapaah brought lyrical competition from the start.
As the subsequent rounds began, there was a clear call for everyone to elevate their game. NSS’s afropiano, mixed by DJ Spinall, kept the crowd moving. DJ Stush welcomed fellow UKG/house stars Egypt, Princess Nyah, and Kele Leroc for energetic remixes of their popular tracks. Ghetts joined the VOTS stage, followed by Leostaytrill x Jess Glyne and Ardee. Additionally, Sister Nancy’s appearance alongside Spice created unforgettable moments.
As the evening wore on, each stage became increasingly star-studded. Huge hits reverberated among enthusiastic fans. Spice Army showcased Sneakbo, Stylo G, Chip, D Double E, Skrapz, and Skillibeng; across the venue, Homegrown featured A$AP Ferg and Mavado, while Native Sound saw performances from Gracious K and Pa Salieu, along with Big Narstie and Bushkin for Voice of the Streets.
Throughout the night, there was an abundance of dubplates, controversially rumored to be AI-generated. However, these numerous dubs emerged as the surprise highlight of the event, featuring artists like Vybz Kartel, Shenseea, Dave, Central Cee, K-Trap, Sting, Ms Dynamite, and others. Visual displays also highlighted each team’s unique strengths: Homegrown used shady messages from Elijah, Spice showcased a video with the acquitted Vybz Kartel, and Native threw in a pointed diss image.
With so much talent gathered in one place, it was clear this year’s Culture Clash was destined to be monumental. Imagining it was one thing, but witnessing generations of diasporic rappers and singers delivering intense performances round after round was a whole different experience.
Ultimately, the Spice Army emerged victorious after a tiebreaker, leaving us amazed by the influence of sound system culture on the UK. The event illuminated the richness and diversity of British Black music. It’s truly one of a kind.
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Words: Shanté Collier-McDermott
Photography: Ben McQuaide
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After a break, Red Bull Culture Clash – regarded as the largest music competition in the world – made its triumphant comeback to London this weekend. With bright sunshine…