With fans around the world in New Zealand, Germany and Estonia, a Nottingham rapper’s career has picked up speed in recent years and he has no intention of taking his foot off the gas.
Bru-C grew up in Long Eaton and the rapper, who still calls the town home, is thinking of ways to keep growing.
Younger people know him from his garage and drum and bass sounds, while older residents of Notts probably know him as the rapper who was arrested in the market square after England’s Euro 2020 semi-final victory.
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Either way, his new single “Freedom” seems timed and titled as it was released the week that the UK Covid-19 restrictions were lifted.
Nottinghamshire Live spoke to MC Bru-C to learn more about getting into music in the city and their plans for the future, including a “historic” home gig in Rock City later this year.
He said, “It was my older sister who attracted me to music. When I was in 6th grade I remember her showing me garage mixtapes by artists like Heartless Crew.
“It was there that I heard rap for the first time and became obsessed with it. Then I heard US rappers and other grime and UK artists too.
“I was around 14 when I started recording, and I’ve been taking it seriously for five or six years.
“I’ve always been interested in drums and bass and would listen to it religiously. I loved watching the MCs and thought there was a gap in the market to do something as a rapper and with my singing too. If you listen , I’m more busy than rapping in my music. “
Bru-C’s audience has also grown in recent years. His Spotify profile shows that he now has more than 1.7 million monthly listeners and his hit You & I is now 43 million streams worldwide.
On July 22nd, a launch party for his single “Freedom” was held at the Stealth on Goldsmith Street.
Bru-C explained the importance of the single, adding, “It was really an idea to make ‘Freedom’ feel special. I spoke to my manager at the time and said that I would like to publish it when things open up, so we stuck with it. ”
“If it comes out now, it will represent the freedom for the nation to put events back on the cards and my own freedom from what happened earlier this month.
“I want people to get back into the music scene and enjoy everything.
“Being from Notts, I can’t wait to perform in Rock City. I have so many emotions thinking about performing in an iconic place like this. I think it’s going to be historic.”
To continue its growth, Bru-C signed a publishing deal last week with Ultra Music, who have also worked with Calvin Harris, Benny Benassi, Steve Aoki and Kygo.
On a local level, Bru-C has also worked with the city-based music center Fisher Gate Point, which was founded last year. He shot a music video there and has also hooked up with Nottingham DJ Wigflex who has a studio in the hub. The rapper said it was a place that “really helps Nottingham’s independent artists”.
Earlier this year, Bru-C also toured New Zealand – somewhere he’d like to return and perform.
He said, “My tour there was completely sold out so we had to make two additional dates. It was great.
(Image: Ian Hodgkinson / Picture It)
“I’ve been to Estonia too, which is crazy. It’s one of my favorite places in the world and the Czech Republic.
“I know I have fans in Germany too, so I’m thinking about getting out of there too.
“If you had asked me five years ago where I would be today, part of me would say, ‘Yes, I can get where I am because I believe in myself’.
“It’s so important to be ready for anything in life. I’ve been doing this for a decade and I approach everything with my feet on the ground.
“Keep an eye on my social media for updates on my music. I have no plans to take my foot off the gas now.
“I would also like to thank everyone who supported me from the days when I uploaded to YouTube myself.
“To everyone who is affected by the current situation in the world and feels down, I hope my music can inspire you as someone who came from Long Eaton to get where I am. Don’t give up. “
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