Meet Yorkshire rapper, XtG

1 thing (& 1 thing only) – time.

See, ever since jamming G-Unit back in the early noughties, the thought of becoming a Yorkshire rapper has always been simmering in the back of my mind. Plus, being paid £10/ hour to stare at a computer screen, doesn’t exactly attract me to your average ‘job’ either. 

So, after a few (backbreaking) years of trying to fit in, I’d reached breaking point. The realisation that I’m here to do a whole lot more than just live a 9-5 & drop dead someday… told you I was blunt. 

As a wise man once said: “Life is a ONE time affair. If we’re only here for so long, then what exactly do we have to loose by chasing our dreams?… Nothing!” 

Something that’s exactly the reason I’m here today, spitting bars as a Yorkshire rapper… YOLO

In case you haven’t already twigged, I’m quite the eccentric type; the typical streetwear starter-kit isn’t really my style. But, that’s literally it. 

I dress like this, because it’s me. See, I don’t fancy being ‘that rapper’ who altered his image just to be accepted. 

FYI: XtG is NOT some farfetched character. He’s a caricature of the everyday me. Denim is my ‘go-to’ when it comes to garms. I’ve wore the same chain for 5+ years & I can’t last the summer without repping a pair of circular shades. As for the flat cap – that’s simply a vintage nod towards my Yorkshire heritage.

I’m not trying to impress you. 

This is all, just me. So just as I’m the person you see on the screen, I’m also the cheeky chap you see over social media. Not to mention the Yorkshire who you’re (in effect) having a convo with now, or the person who I am around my friends & family.

XtG was never intended to be (& never will be) a façade. Merely a caricature of the more ‘in your face’ side to the real me. Fingers crossed now, my motto makes sense: 

“Follow Intuition, Not The Crowd”. 

Slight confession… nope.

In fact, prior to becoming a Yorkshire rapper, my largest musical achievement was reaching Grade 1 in piano (permission to giggle). And as far as school was concerned, music was one of ‘those’ subjects I couldn’t wait to drop.

That’s because back then, I was yet to fully understand my creative process, so music to me was more of a headache than a pleasure. A creative quirk that the education system conveniently neglects to mention (raised eyebrows). So for young me, the thought of becoming a Yorkshire rapper was still very much a distant fantasy.

Young me was more focused on becoming something formal (cough – dull) like a Solicitor or Accountant (pass the sick bag).

Don’t be too quick to judge. Just because I’m a Yorkshire rapper doesn’t mean UK rap about chips & gravy is my ‘go-to’ at the gym. It’s not.

In fact, there’s only 1 song I listen to when working out (on repeat) & that stems back to the US – NYC to be precise.  

The track itself is called ‘Reminder’ & is by G-Unit rapper, Lloyd Banks. Take a listen & I’m pretty sure that within 30 seconds you’ll understand why it spurs me on to put in the extra reps. As the title suggests, it’s a reminder of not to lose sight of who you are, or give in to convention.

Gym fanatics be sure to check out Lloyd’s full F.N.O. mixtape. It really does ignite a fire!!

You guessed it. 

Huddersfield’s my hometown. That lesser known mill town, situated more or less directly in-between Leeds & Manchester. A tough gig, especially when you consider that the LS & M postcodes are 2 of the biggest in Yorkshire!!

Interested to know more about my Hudd? Brush up on all the local goss in my blog – Huddersfield 101.

No rapper should fear me.

And that goes, whether they’re from Yorkshire or anywhere else in the world. Because the only person I’m trying to better is myself. #InMaOwnLane

If that’s the case, then I guess I’m here to flip the script. See, it’s no accident that I’ve spent many boss-eyed months creating this site!!

As far as I can see, social media is overcrowded to the point that staying up to date with your fav MCs ain’t all that easy, even for the most dedicated fans! 

Hence this site, which is in effect my very own private corner of the internet, where you can keep up to speed with all things XtG in just a couple of clicks, be that my latest tunes, recent social updates or my freshest merch. 

Heck – because of this site I even have a blog too! So if you’re into oppionated rants or philosophical thinking, then do take 5 to check it out! (link below)

Give me this superpower & I’d do all I could to change this…

To stop artists (including any upcoming Yorkshire rappers) from hiding behind a false image just because ‘that’s what’s poppin’. Because while on the surface, it may sound financially savvy, the more you look at it, it’s actually self sabotage. 

So yeah, you may havea healthy bank balance + every gal on earth screaming your name, BUT… if they’re fans of your image & not who you really are, then what’s it worth??

Now I’m ni psychiatrist, but I’d say that’s proof – lose your authenticity & you lose yourself (no Eminem pun intended)

Don’t be SO quick to judge. 

Because while you’d expect a Yorkshire rapper’s CD collection to be swimming in UK Hip Hop that’s not always the case. Take mine for instance – it’s a tad more… diverse. 

So while I am partial to the likes of: Notorious BIG, Nas & G-Unit to name but a few – it’s not all that I listen to. Delve deeper & you’d come across a bunch of albums that you’d probs never expect a UK MC to listen to. I’m on about those by:

Westlife, Lionel Richie, Madonna, Nsync, Frank Sinatra, Britney Spears, Simply Red, Dean Martin & even Il Divo. The direct result of your Dad being a mega Pop-lover & your Grandad being into virtually every crooner imaginable.

Thanks guys!