With Hip-Hop celebrating its 50th birthday recently, it only feels right to big up the top spots in London for some old-school jams.
Chip Shop BXTN
378 Coldharbour Lane Brixton, SW9 8LF
The only way to start off a list like this. Affectionately known as the hip-hop Chip Shop, this unassuming Brixton spot has over the years held some proper rap pedigree, and is only set to forever rock steadily.
Their hall of fame includes Mobb Deep, Taib Kweli, DJ Yella, Large Professor, RUN DMC, Ice T, Bahamadia, DJ Eclipse, MC Eiht, KRS-One, Jeru the Damaja, Pete Rock, Cormega, and almost all the members of Wu-Tang.
With its intimate setting and the quality of acts they bring in on a regular basis, Chip Shop may just be our number one.
See what's on here
Fridays at Queen of Hoxton
1-5 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3JX
Every single Friday, the Queen of Hoxton turns into North East London’s hip-hop hotspot.
More of a laidback, DJ’ed event rather than a chance to see live performances, the Queen of Hoxton packs a punch for hip-hop fans, offering music across two rooms and across adjacent genres, including trap, grime, afrobeats, and dancehall.
The best part is that it costs next to nothing. £3 for a ticket in today's climate is peanuts.
See upcoming events here
Blues Kitchen Brixton
40 Acre Ln, London SW2 5SP
Another SW spot, Brixton’s Blues Kitchen (a chain) offers a good number of hip-hop nights between its typical funk, soul, and blues listings.
Every Friday plays host to their ‘Hip-hop, Afrobeats, + R’n’B till Late’ nights, playing an eponymous mix of flavours from across the decades.
Check for their other events too, including a 10-piece brass band performing the hits of Arctic Monkeys, or a gospel choir performing Frank Ocean. It’s an incredibly versatile venue, so come for the hip-hop on Fridays, stay for the soul on Saturdays.
And no, the kitchen part isn't an extended metaphor. Take a look at their menu.
See upcoming events here
The Jazz Café
5 Parkway, Camden, NW1 7PG
Not many in the know would expect Camden’s Jazz Café – a largely seated, formal dining affair, at least upstairs – would be such an important beacon in London’s hip-hop culture.
While lacking a regular hip-hop club night (instead they opted for a regular House and Soul night called Soul City), they play host to some of the most important artists in hip-hops past, present, and future.
A birthday party for A Tribe Called Quests ‘Midnight Marauders’, complete with a live band, their de facto-annual Madvillainy event, an anniversary for Lauryn Hill’s only album, and performances Jeru the Damaja and Wut-Tang’s GZA backed by a full band, within a few weeks of each other, betrays the Café’s dedication to the culture.
See their upcoming events here