RESPECT. Interview: Young T & Bugsey could be the UK’s Next Biggest Hip Hop Act

UK rap is an immense lane of its own. Over the years genres like Grime, Drum & Bass & Garage have at one point or another held the crown for major influential music urban movement du jour on the Isle. Beyond that, Hip-Hop, in a surprisingly pure formula has begun to flourish in England. One group that’s been in the UK Rap forefront amongst a heavy class of strong contenders are Young T & Bugsey who first went viral with their big song “4×4” and “Gangland” featuring Belly Squad but are far from new. Working their way from Nottingham to the contemporary scene, these boys have a chance to be the biggest rap duo coming out of the UK in 2020 and forward.

Grime and Rap as a genre in the UK has set a high bar with the foundational work laid down by MCs Wiley, Skepta & Stormzy so a lot of artists have been able to break into America expanding their fanbases and reaching more listeners as an active part of their campaigns. The duo has been busy with their debut album release rollout titled “Plead the 5th” with selective features and dynamite beats bringing together a unique sound that crosses between their heritage: dancehall with obvious influence of Hip Hop and Rap. Coming into the game with their own twang and flavour, the duo is one of the most exciting acts to hit the super globalised sphere that is the internet & social media. Between their busy time, the musicians spoke to RESPECT about the album, their favourite songs from it and whats to be expected from them this year and next.

RESPECT MAG: Which one of you is the melodic master and who’s comes up with heavier bars out of the two? Like do you guys have your own set role to play in the duo?

YoungT & Bugsey: Young T because he’s like he’s more lyrical and precise. He’s like, I feel like, the point of view he raps from he raps like a higher level point of view type of thing like he raps like he’s writing a story like T’s more lyrical.

RESPECT MAG: Who do y’all like more Modanna or Mariah Carey?

YoungT & Bugsey: Probably Mariah Carey because iv’e had more experiences of Mariah Carey songs more then Madonna innit.

RESPECT MAG: Your new project plead the 5th got very select collabs. Aitch collab was a big summer jam when it first dropped. We’re looking forward to the Fredo Single and how well that will do knowing he’s got a big buzz. Tell us about that track.

YoungT & Bugsey: One of the last songs, One of the last songs to go on the mixtape to go innit we already had it and like we kinda thought like we needed a feature for it and we thought it would make sense cause we’ve already done a song with him and we thought a part 2 on the tape would make sense to do innit.

RESPECT MAG: 2020 starting off very crazy with quarantine and everything are you guys staying in during Coronavirus COVID19?

YoungT & Bugsey: We wanted to go on tour at the end of April but due to obviously virus outbreak we can’t go on tour alongside like doing meet and greets like we wanted to do a couple of meet and greets with the fans to really connect with the fans and that but we can’t do that anymore cause obviously everyones on lockdown so that’s why it’s a bit it’s a bit annoying.

RESPECT MAG: We heard the tape and I can tell us there some really good song on there. Which ones are your favourites and why?

YoungT & Bugsey: I like all the songs but I think I like School Trip because i think it’s a sign that we know that we can do. It’s the type of music you know we could do but people don’t really know that we could make that type of music, they haven’t really heard that side, that side of vibe that we can bring.

I think I like Madonna i think it’s a, it’s a really nice song and the influences on the song are from Nottingham and from a lot of artists and the way that they make music and the things that they use so think it’s more of like a sentimental value to it. Right now these are the songs right now but in a few months it could change innit.

RESPECT MAG: On a musical pedestal from Nottingham to US you have worked a lot of people, name some of your favourite collabs to date.

YoungT & Bugsey: I would say Probably the collab with Aitch and “Gangland” with belly squad.

RESPECT MAG: Tell us about you guys musical influences, biggest idol? And why?

YoungT & Bugsey: My biggest musical influence I’d probably say is 50 Cent. I feel like 50 Cent was like the first rapper to really like really really convince me that you know I wanna be a rapper innit like I wanna be like that and I wanna do what he’s doing. We always wanted to, we linked up when we were 15-16 innit. Ever since we were 16 we never went to work we were musicians innit.

RESPECT MAG: If I to turn on your apple/Spotify playlist what current music I would find?

YoungT & Bugsey:. You probably find Frosty a bit of Frosty, NLE Choppa, and Roddy Rich their song are bangers.

RESPECT MAG: why do you guys think you work well together as a duo?

YoungT & Bugsey: Because I feel like we compliment each others styles innit, it’s like a thing were we’re both 50/50 like we’re both putting In 50% innit like it’s like no ones one uping anyone no ones better then anyone like we’re both equally as heard like we’re both sick like you can’t really explain it.