Bob Vylan (GB)

About

Bob Vylan are a London punk rap duo whose name is a deliberate pun on Bob Dylan and the word "villain", though they'll be the first to tell you Bob Dylan has nothing to do with their sound. Bobby Vylan handles vocals and guitar while Bobbie Vylan holds down drums, and together they mash up grime, punk rock, hip hop, and hardcore into something Kerrang! once called the most exciting and important punk band in the UK. Their lyrics go hard on racism, police brutality, economic inequality, and the struggles of being Black in Britain, with dancehall and reggae textures woven in as a nod to Bobby's Jamaican heritage. Whitney Houston, the Sex Pistols, and Dizzee Rascal all sit in the same influence pile, which tells you everything about the range they're working with. Their 2022 album Bob Vylan Presents the Price of Life debuted at number 18 on the UK Albums Chart and remains their commercial high point so far, though their 2024 follow up Humble as the Sun earned glowing reviews from NME, who called it "electrifying, experimental and empowering". The duo built their following the hard way, personally delivering records to shops and booking their own shows under their DIY label Ghost Theatre. A controversial chant at Glastonbury 2025 sparked widespread debate and had their US visas revoked, but it also sent Humble as the Sun to the top of the UK Hip Hop and R&B Album Chart.