DAY & NIGHT AT Dubrek Studios: UNDERGROUND RAP, DIY FASHION AND ART COLLIDE IN A FULL-THROTTLE CELEBRATION OF UKUG CULTURE

On Saturday 11th April, Dubrek Studios became the beating heart of Derby’s underground as Day and Night brought together rap, fashion and art in one uncompromising, high-energy showcase. Spearheaded by Derby’s own VEXT, the event was more than just a gig-it was a statement. A statement that the UK underground rap (UKUG) scene is not only alive but evolving, thriving, and pushing boundaries harder than ever.

Across the UK, underground rap has exploded into a genre-defying movement. No longer confined to traditional hip-hop structures, today’s scene blends grime, punk, rock, distorted electro, cloud rap and emo influences into something entirely its own. It’s raw, it’s experimental, and it’s driven by a DIY ethos that prioritises authenticity over polish. Day and Night captured that spirit perfectly.

VEXT’s groundwork paid off. After plastering Derby city centre with posters and carefully curating a line-up that represented the cutting edge of the scene, the turnout spoke for itself. A crowd packed with fans, creatives and curious newcomers filled the venue from early on-and once it started, it didn’t let up.

The day wasn’t just about music. It was a full cultural crossover. Visual art and fashion sat side-by-side with the performances, reinforcing how interconnected the underground scene has become. Zah Zah Binks showcased striking, street-rooted artwork alongside pieces from Marin8ted and Leo Saarinen, while fashion brands like SOAR (50AR) and Skulls All On You brought a gritty, punk-goth DIY aesthetic that mirrored the sound coming from the stage. This wasn’t just a backdrop-it was part of the identity. You could see the culture as much as you could hear it.

From the opening set, the energy was locked in. Faneto Kai kicked things off with a charged performance that immediately pulled a crowd to the front. His track Impale set the tone-bass-heavy, immersive, and impossible to ignore. From that point on, the stage never stood empty, and the crowd never drifted.

AB’K followed with darker, harder-hitting material, drawing loud reactions as sections of the audience rapped along-especially during Pluhh, which landed like an anthem in the room. Then came SCARFSOUJA, whose set pushed the atmosphere into overdrive. Bring Da Money Home had bodies bouncing across the floor, and in a moment that summed up the DIY, anything-goes nature of the night, someone hoisted a laptop into the air mid-set, streaming the performance live via Skype.

The middle stretch of the event blurred lines between performers and collaborators. Vital Jazz, DYINGFORREVENGE and TYATRON rotated through sets, feeding off each other’s energy in a fluid, almost chaotic exchange. Each artist brought their own edge, but together they created something bigger-a shared momentum that kept the room on a constant high.

TYATRON’s 28 Grams detonated into a full crowd surge, with bodies colliding and bouncing in a relentless wave. DYINGFORREVENGE took control with commanding presence, calling out anyone hanging back-“You didn’t just come here to stand around”-before launching into Bitty22, dragging the entire room into motion. Vital Jazz escalated things even further with Acidveins, triggering one of the most intense mosh pits of the night. At this point, the dancefloor wasn’t just active-it was chaos in its purest form.

Then came the headline set.

VEXT stepped up and delivered exactly what the night demanded. Opening with the more melodic Future Plans, he quickly flipped the switch, launching into VEXT IS NEXT, Afters, TEN DOWN BUNNIN and STAYIN TRUE. The sound was huge-distorted, bass-heavy, unapologetically loud. This was party music for a crowd that knew exactly what it came for: energy, release, and connection.

The finale sealed it. All I Wanna Do-already cementing itself as a scene staple-arrived with an extended intro built around a warped, high-intensity take on O Fortuna fused with the unmistakable “Hey Sugar” sample. When the drop hit-“I wanna smoke a zoot”-the entire venue erupted. The track was rewound not once, but twice, each replay hitting harder than the last, with the crowd screaming every word back.

By the end, the stage was overflowing. Artists, fans, friends-everyone was up there, dancing, shouting, celebrating. No barriers. No separation. Just a shared moment.

Day and Night at Dubrek Studios wasn’t just a successful event-it was a snapshot of a movement. UKUG in full effect. Experimental. DIY. Punk at its core. A culture you could hear in the distorted basslines, see in the artwork, and wear in the clothes.

Most importantly, it showed what happens when a community comes together-not just to perform, but to build something. Derby’s underground isn’t waiting for recognition. It’s creating its own lane.

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