Pete & Bas w/ The Snooker Team

When it comes to quality music, even in lesser-known genres, England has always been a never-ending source of talent. From progressive rock to contemporary drum & bass, the UK has consistently produced world-renowned artists. Recently, however, the public’s attention has been caught by a rather unusual group: a crew of elderly rappers.

Put aside legends like Genesis or The Beatles for a moment, because now it's time to discover Pete & Bas and their collective, The Snooker Team. This group of septuagenarians, passionate about rap and hip hop, began their musical journey in 2017, going viral on YouTube and social media, particularly in 2021 with tracks like Golf, Plugged In, and Mr Worldwide. The latter track has amassed almost 4 million views on YouTube and is nearing 6 million streams on Spotify.

Their style, characterized by a mix of South London slang, a Cockney accent, and surprising wordplay, quickly took over the UK drill scene. Their lyrics, which tell stories of criminal and hedonistic lifestyles, combined with an energetic beat, made Pete & Bas a unique phenomenon. While they were performing in front of just a few dozen people in 2018, their 2022-2023 tour concerts are now sold out.

What makes their story even more remarkable is that, until just a few years ago, Pete and Bas, dubbed by the BBC as the "grandfathers of UK Drill," had no prior knowledge of rap music. It all began by chance when Peter Bowditch, aka Pete, discovered the genre while his granddaughter changed the radio station in the car. From that simple discovery, the idea arose to invite his friend Basil Bellgrave, known as Bas, to try their hand at rap. What started as a joke soon turned into a serious project, involving other friends and launching an adventure that has captivated millions of fans.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-it/artist/4if49KlQEdVNk97CQYSFvt