Without a doubt, Shotty Horroh has come a long way from the streets of Harpurhey.
From selling mixtapes in town, to becoming one of the most respected rap battlers in the world, he’s got an internationally-recognised track record.
In 2011, when Shotty was fresh on the scene with no rap battle experience, he took on America’s top battler Dizaster. He went in as a huge underdog, and he won 3-0.
That was just the beginning.
Shotty continued to win battle after battle. But it was his bout with New Jersey’s Arsonal in 2012 that was particularly legendary.
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Not only was it one of the most anticipated battles at the time, it’s since amassed more than 13million views on YouTube.
Shotty Horror vs Arsonal. Image: Don’t Flop
For the past couple of years, Shotty has spent a lot of time in Canada working with producer Deadmau5 and Sony Music.
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After testing the waters with a load of different genres over the years, Shotty has released a number of genre-bending EPs.
It’s clear the rapper doesn’t fit into one box. The rock and roll sounds of his album Salt of The Earth in 2018 and the trap-hip-hop-R&B fusion of Misery Loves Company in 2020 are just two examples of what he’s all about.
I couldn’t even name another artist that can switch up their style and pull it off the way Shotty can. He just keeps on surprising.
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But although Shotty no longer makes grown men cry in the rap battle ring, he’s still as sharp as ever. His wordplay is smart and witty, but most of all unique.
For his next project, he’s revisiting hip-hop, with a brand-new five-track audio drama The Teller.
This time, his music has taken a storytelling route. The EP is complete with a dark plot line, which encompasses five key elements – family, debt, crime, murder and betrayal.
The lyrics are deep and chilling from the get-go. The first track, ‘Dave’s Dilemma’, sets the scene of the drama – the story of a family man who’s got himself into trouble with a crime family.
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With each track, the story twists and unfolds as Dave scrambles to protect his family and repay his debt. He becomes tormented by his actions and is overcome with regret. The tracks are graphic – and at times disturbing – forcing images into your mind of the drama that’s developing.
The story concludes with ‘Vultures Fly In My Head’. It’s an intense and revengeful outcome, but I get the feeling the story doesn’t really end there.
Image: Rick Charles Media/Shotty Horroh/Instagram
The Teller has a sinister narrative, but it’s definitely gripping. Once again, Shotty proves he’s a man of many talents, telling stories through music in the most unexpected ways.
What’s next for Shotty, I wonder? A return to his rap battle heritage? My guess: only an opponent with the biggest of balls could tease him from retirement.
But for now, The Teller is available for pre-order from 16 January – strap yourselves in!
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Sterephonics frontman Kelly Jones reveals that Noel Gallagher is back in the studio
Danny Jones
Stereophonics lead singer Kelly Jones has graciously revealed to music fans that new Gallagher tunes could be on the way, as he confirmed that Noel has been back in the studio and working on new material.
The big question is, has Liam been in there with him?…
Broken rather nonchalantly in an interview with NME, Jones didn’t so much let the news slip as much as he seemingly just casually dropped it into conversation, mentioning that he bumped into the older Gallagher brother recently.
As he puts it – frustratingly briefly, might we add (sorry, fanaticism will do that to you) – the Oasis icon and High Flying Birds frontman has been doing some songwriting, but the details were scarce.
The 50-year-old ‘Phonics frontman, who was discussing the release of their 13th studio album as well as his own solo project last year, was asked his thoughts on the legendary Britpop band’s upcoming reunion shows and the impact they had on his own career.
“Funnily enough, I found some old pictures of me and Noel rehearsing when he used to have a studio down in Windsor recently, just before we toured America”, said Jones. “We were having a laugh about them and I asked him what he’d been up to and he said he’d been doing some writing in the studio.
The unmistakable Welsh vocalist went on to add: “I’m assuming he’s doing some writing for either his stuff or if they’re [Oasis] gonna bring out a couple songs, I don’t know.”
It seems the pair are still more than friendly, though he gave little away about his relationship with Liam Gallagher; the two British rock groups did share somewhat of a rivalry in the 90s and 2000s, with Stereophonics making no secret of Oasis inspiring their own music.
Describing the band in their heyday, Jones described the period “kind of chaotic and mayhem but it was all very joyous”, insisting that things are very different nowadays but that he is not the less excited than a whole new generations of fans are going to be able to see them live for the first time
As for whether he and his bandmates will be able to find the time, he revealed in a subsequent chat live on Radio X that their own tour clashes may mean they’ll miss out on the Live ’25 tour experience.
Further reflecting on the age of streaming, content overload and what some would argue is an overabundance of media, Kelly said of art and music in particular that “people need it now more than they’ve needed it in a long time.”
We don’t know whether or not Noel’s return to songwriting is for the next High Flying Birds record or whether the rumours are true and new Oasis music really is on the way.
As much as we love his solo stuff, PLEASE let it be the latter.
We do know that the siblings are said to be getting on swimmingly so far and even spent some of the Easter break together, according to LG himself. Here’s hoping they were throwing around ideas for another instant hit.
An old indie favourite is heading back to Manchester for a ‘Best Of Tour’ at a brilliant venue
Danny Jones
Time to roll back the years as old-school indie favourite The Pigeon Detectives are coming back to Manchester for a special show at one of the most stunning venues in the city.
We swear, if we could find our old iPod, their tracks would still be all over it.
Coming back to another part of the North that always showed them plenty of love, The Pigeon Detectives will be playing a special ‘The Best of Tour’ in line with their latest record, Still Not Sorry.
The Manc gig comes as the Yorkshire lads announced just six UK headline sets to support the album release, but let’s be honest, they were never going to skip 0161, were they?
UK TOUR! NEW RECORD! On Sale Friday 2nd May, but get pre-sale NOW when you buy a best of record (with 3 new tracks) or t-shirt from here: https://t.co/a1q44LYbD6 see you in Autumn! pic.twitter.com/HWA9ITS9Ii
— The Pigeon Detectives (@pigeonsofficial) April 25, 2025
With only half a dozen domestic dates confirmed so far, including the likes of Manchester, a homecoming night in Leeds and up in Glasgow, this really does feel like a return that long-standing fans won’t want to miss.
The new LP, which is a greatest hits compilation featuring the very best tracks from their discography that stretches over two decades, drops next month and we’re very ready to pump some adolescent nostalgia into our ears.
And best of all, they’ll be playing all the cult favourite Pigeon Detectives tracks at the simply stunning New Century Hall, marking just their second visit to the venue.
Boasting the food and beer hall downstairs as the ideal pre-gig location, not to mention a sprung dancefloor and those iconic, mesmerising lights, it’s a nigh on perfect space for live music.
We’re not exaggerating when we say we’ve had some of our best gigs in recent memory here.
Speaking in a lengthier statement on social media, the boys from Rothwell wrote: “If a band is lucky (and hardworking, and fairly decent at what they do!) there comes a time in their career when they realise that the journey they started as mates messing about on guitars has culminated in a hefty bunch of songs that people actually care about and connect with!
“At this point, the only logical next step is to take a breath, reflect back through the archives and assemble a ‘Best Of’ album. We’ve reached that point, Pigeon Heads!”
They describe the project as a collection of songs and memories that chart their career from their humble beginnings in Leeds to their “adventures around the globe”, where they have been fortunate enough to “some of the biggest stages on the planet.”
“As a band it’s always felt like we had to do things the hard way, even with an amazing set of supportive fans”, they go on to add, “but we just kept on writing songs, kept on playing gigs and kept on being The Pigeon Detectives. Us against the world. We weren’t sorry then, and we’re Still Not Sorry now!”
Maybe it’s our age showing but those last few lines alone have got us feeling all teary-eyed.
Hannah Starkie -
15th January 2021 
