Sad Banana
Ever wondered what the world looks like through the eyes of an overripe banana? Sad Banana crafts an existential fruit salad in the form of a music concert. They are blending punk, rap, and dadaism into a bittersweet cocktail of sound. Their lyrics teeter between bravado and breakdown, vulnerability and kitsch, politics and pastiche. It’s absurd, it’s emotional, it’s post-capitalist pulp with a pulse. Catch them live at Dynamo during Hit The City. Tears become beats if you squeeze them hard enough. Sad? Very. But also unmissable.
BUG
Trust us — there's no way you'll leave the Dynamo venue without breaking a sweat after a BUG show. Within minutes, the place transforms into a writhing mass of bodies or something that can only be described as pure chaos. BUG delivers an explosive blend of rap, punk, and pounding rave beats, topped off with raw, unfiltered lyrics. Think The Prodigy-level madness, but with a sharper, more contemporary edge. Add in choreographed elements and performance art, and it’s no surprise they became a crowd favorite at both Popronde and ESNS in recent editions.
Angry Blackmen
Angry Blackmen are the Chicago duo tearing into the horrors of modern America with raw poetry and spine-snapping industrial hip hop. On their 2024 album The Legend of ABM, Quentin Branch and Brian Warren waste no time. Jumping straight into a barrage of glitchy, noise-heavy beats and pathos-laced bars about themes such as racism, capitalism, addiction, and survival. It’s a 30-minute blast of existential urgency told through personal anecdotes and razor-sharp wordplay. Expect their live shows to be just as unfiltered and loud. An electrifying deep-dive into the pre-apocalyptic world we’re already living in.
Oykie
Amsterdam-born Oykie (Kyo Bijron) returned home at 17 to pursue music, quickly gaining millions of streams with hits like Geluk and Private Life—all without label support. Blending American styles with a distinct Dutch edge, his tracks like the viral Naar Je Toe and collaborations with Eves Laurent showcase his versatility. With over 20 million streams and recognition from FunX and Complex, Oykie is a rising star both on local and international stages.
Brunzyn
Straight outta Vlaardingen: Brunzyn! He’s is not just an artist, he’s the vice president of Albino Sports, an independent label making major moves. After a lifetime of vibing to hip-hop, he now spits relatable bars over blazing beats, always keeping the crowd on its toes. A true man of the people, Brunzyn builds a real connection with his audience and when he hits the stage, it shows. With explosive projects like ‘B2’, ‘Albino Sports Vol. 1’ (with Joost Klein), and ‘Meer Dan Een Meme’, you already know he’s about to tear it all down. Expect high energy, slick moves, and moshpits that’ll shake basement.
Jawnino
The enigma of London’s underground: Jawnino! Emerging from the shadows with his cult 2019 hit ‘It's Cold Out’, Jawnino has carved out a space entirely his own. Fusing grime, jungle, and UK rap, his sound pulses with the raw, restless spirit of London. Unapologetically unconventional, Jawnino weaves gritty street tales with eclectic production, capturing both the chaos and beauty of city life. His music doesn’t fit neatly into one category—instead, it draws from various influences to craft a sound that’s uniquely his. With co-signs from underground heavyweights like MIKE, Kibo, and James Massiah, Jawnino is building a movement on his own terms; no gimmicks, no compromises, just pure, unfiltered expression.
H31R
Building on a mutual desire to bridge the gap between hip hop and electronic music, H31R (pronounced heir/air) creates an enigmatic but complementary sonic experience that pushes the fickle boundaries of genre. The duo, consisting of producer and composer JWords and Brooklyn rapper/vocalist maassai, both grew up listening to a variety of genres and are using the sounds of their youth to expand on the potential and style of their own music. Their debut ve·loc·i·ty (2020) showcased a speed and grit not heard before in underground music. Its singular amalgamation of hip hop and electronic music, further characterized by flecks of jazz, juke, Jersey club and boom bap, noted a direction in music unbound by the confines of genre. The album’s enigmatic sound paired with a collage of self-affirmations caught wind from the likes of Pitchfork, The Wire, Brooklyn Vegan, Okayplayer, Cabbages and Bandcamp, who called ‘ve·loc·i·ty’ “a marvel of momentum”. Their latest album, HeadSpace (2023), confidently expands their electronic rap vision, featuring wonky, out-of-this-world tracks with a wildly futuristic vibe.
Kabeaushé
The beholder of softness, the embodiment of cuteness known for oozing sass galore on sweaty dancefloors; the dangerously extravagant Kabeaushé. They are crafting a sound of their own, infused with pop sensibilities that go from Prince to Bollywood and Tyler, the Creator. Future or intelligent pop is probably the best way to describe their music, a rare bird in the African music landscape. The show is a hybrid of music and theater, developed for months in Kampala together with a creative team. They like to explore themes of softness and cuteness, making music that is both gentle and highly invigorating with a show aimed to draw the audience into a hypnotic dance frenzy.