Phonetics Presents

Homeboy Sandman (USA)

Mr Thing (former Scratch Perverts/DMC Champ)

Kid Acne (Painter, print-maker, illustrator and emcee) 

Dee Rock (NY Sushi/Hub Records)

Agent J (Groovement Manchester)

Homeboy Sandman is one of the most prolific MC’s working in the US right now and has a huge back catalogue of material, which only gets better with each album and collaboration.

“Born Angel Del Villar in Queens, New York, Homeboy Sandman isn’t so easily pigeonholed into simplistic narratives. For a start, people can’t seem to decide whether he’s old school or new school. While he works with pioneering producers like Jonwayne and Paul White, his embrace of storytelling, positive and soulful vibes, and the sense of energy and fun at his live shows, make people wonder whether he’s channelling the past or breaking new ground” (Huck)

He has also worked with producers and MC’s including Edan, Quelle Chris, Aesop Rock, Deca, J-live.

Mr Thing (former Scratch Perverts/DMC Champ)

Known worldwide, Mr Thing is a name synonymous with Hip-Hop, funk and turntablist culture that always brings smiles and astonishment to the faces of fans and promoters alike through his genius performances of impeccable skill.

Since first touching the tables in 1987, he has been non-stop perfecting his art (winning the 1999 DMC World Team Championships with the Scratch Perverts and then by himself in 2000) he is understandably now recognised as one of the worlds best.

He has also worked with DJ Premier to compile the their “Kings of Hip Hop” albums. He can rock any party with ease whether dropping Hip Hop, Funk, Bruk and all things jump up. It was clear that he would fit right in with the Phonetics Sound after seeing his set with Short Blitz at the WOH 2024 festival that went off. 

Kid Acne (Painter, Print-maker, illustrator and Emcee)

Ed Bradbury aka Kid Acne – a pseudonym he chose for himself as “a spotty teenager” in the mid 1990’s.

His formative years were spent writing graffiti, self-publishing fanzines and making experimental Hip-Hop – invariably, illustrating and printing the record sleeves by hand. The culmination of these interests informed the development of his own unique aesthetic, which he has translated into innumerable graphics, product designs, installations, animations and silk screen editions.

As an emcee, Kid Acne has released six studio albums alongside various singles, EPs and collaborative projects throughout the years. He has toured across Europe and shared stages from South Yorkshire to North America with a wide range of notable acts, performing his own brand of DIY music at underground venues and major music festivals alike.

A stalwart of the international Street Art movement, Kid Acne has painted large-scale murals across continents and exhibited extensively in museums and galleries from Beijing to Paris over the past two decades. His art explores a variety of themes, including typography, fantasy, mythology and architecture. His work has adorned campaigns for some of the world’s leading brands, while the man himself continues to paint epic slogans on the backstreets of Sheffield.

And he still has acne.

Dee Rock (Hub / NY Sushi)

A veteran Sheffield Hip Hop selector who has played alongside some of Hip Hop's biggest US and UK artists, who you can often catch on local radio dropping some choice cuts of Funk, Soul and Hip Hop. He has also recently added to the growing vinyl scene in Sheffield, opening a fine establishment on Sharrow Vale Road supplying slabs of vinyl to the collectors far and wide. 

Dee Rock will be playing classics from his deep crates. 

Agent J (Groovement/BBC Radio 6)

A co-founder of Manchester's In the Loop crew (a club night which was integral to the explosion of Manc Hip Hop in recent years), Agent J aka Jamie Groovement - named for his blog and podcast of the same name - has established himself both as a respectful warm up for visiting acts and a regular face at various bar and club spots across the city. 

J can be found playing alongside numerous Hip Hop and Soul acts across the city and has held down a number of monthly residences and guest spots. 

He continues to push new underground music for the Groovement podcast and Reform Radio show and hosts the show Liber[te] on Radio AIHara. He was also part of the Battlestar Manchuria crew on Reform Radio and co-hosted the Gondwana Radio Show with label boss Matthew Halsall, also on Reform. In addition to this, he was a resident on Katbrownsugar's Sweet Vibrations radio.